LAST UPDATE | 25 Mar 2024

NEW FINE GAEL leader Simon Harris and outgoing Taoiseach Leo Varadkar met this morning, with a spokesperson saying they discussed “national and international issues”.

Harris was announced as the new leader of Fine Gael yesterday, paving his way to being elected taoiseach when the Dáil next meets. 

Meanwhile, also today, US President Joe Biden called Varadkar to bid goodbye to the Taoiseach.

A government spokesperson provided a brief statement this afternoon on the earlier discussion between Varadkar and Harris:

“Taoiseach Leo Varadkar met Fine Gael Leader Simon Harris this morning for well over an hour. The Taoiseach briefed the Fine Gael Leader on upcoming national and international issues.”

The Dáil is currently on its Easter recess and is not due to sit again until Tuesday 9 April, at which point Harris will be proposed as taoiseach and elected with the support of his own party as well as Fianna Fáil, the Green Party and a likely a number of independents.

It means that Varadkar remains as head of government despite no longer being leader of Fine Gael.

Asked yesterday whether the Dáil should be recalled before 9 April so that he may be made taoiseach, Harris said he would have an “open mind” about it but that it’s not his decision. 

A recall of the Dáil would be made at the discretion of Ceann Comhairle Seán Ó Fearghaíl and could come following a request by the government, likely after the coalition leaders meet. 

“That’s something that’s not in my gift in the first instance. It’s something I very much have an open mind on but I’m conscious we have an Easter period, conscious that there’s a lot of work to do,” he said, when asked about a recall. 

Speaking last week, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar also expressed doubts about recalling the Dail due to the disruption it would cause for Oireachtas workers on Easter week. 

Harris also said that he now “has a window” and that, after meeting with Varadkar, his priority is to meet with Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin and Green Party leader Eamon Ryan later this week.

Varadkar also received a farewell call from US President Joe Biden, with both paying wishing each other the best of luck for the months ahead.

According to a statement from the Irish government, the Taoiseach thanked him for his good wishes and paid warm tribute to the role the President has played in advancing US-Ireland relations.

Varadkar also took the opportunity to brief him on the upcoming meeting of the North/South Ministerial Council, which will take place on 8 April, and which it’s hoped will mark another important step forward in restoring the Northern institutions under the Good Friday Agreement.

“The Taoiseach told the President that, all going well, his successor will be appointed on 9 April and looks forward to continuing to work with the US on global affairs, including Ukraine and the Middle East, and to continuing to strengthen ties between Ireland and the US,” the Irish government statement said.

From the US side, a White House readout of the call said that Biden conveyed that he looks forward to “continuing to build a vibrant future for US-Irish relations with the new Taoiseach”, once elected by the Dáil.

The Taoiseach wished the President the best of luck in November.

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New relationships

Speaking to reporters in Athlone yesterday, Varadkar’s successor Harris said he hopes to build relationships of “trust and mutual respect” with his fellow party leaders in government. 

“Trust and mutual respect is key to this government,” he said. 

He said that he intends this government to go the full-term.

Harris said there doesn’t need to be a “mystique” around when the next general election will be called, telling reporters yesterday that he plans for it to go all the way out to March next year.

Martin and Ryan both said this week that they foresee the government going the full-term.

Harris said that “at this stage of the political cycle” there must be a focus on “what can we get done between now and the election” from the Programme for Government (PfG).  

“I want to talk to ministers individually about their priorities, what they think they can get done,” he said.

He added: ”One of the very first questions I’ll be asking as leader is sort of breakdown as to where exactly we’re at on implementation (of the PfG).”

With reporting by Christina Finn, Rónán Duffy and Eoghan Dalton