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LAST UPDATE | 3 Jun 2024
GARDAÍ HAVE CONFIRMED they have launched an investigation after Taoiseach Simon Harris was reportedly pushed and jostled while on the campaign trail in Co Mayo.
Harris faced disruption while canvassing in Westport and barracking from protesters in Castlebar about state provision of asylum seeker accommodation in the county.
Among those who challenged Harris yesterday was the family of Enoch Burke, the secondary school teacher currently in prison for contempt of court for refusing to stay away from the school where he worked.
Harris dismissed the incidents when asked by reporters yesterday afternoon but a spokesperson for the Taoiseach later said that the behaviour he witnessed “cannot be accepted”.
“What happened in Mayo today was not protest. It was thuggery. The Taoiseach would like to thank An Garda Siochana for their professionalism,” the spokesperson said.
A member of An Garda Siochana was hit during the scenes and the Taoiseach was pushed and jostled by a small number of people. It is not representative of what has been a really healthy canvass for the majority of politicians across the country as people in Ireland are decent and law abiding.
He added: “Although it was a very small number of people, today’s behaviour cannot be accepted and should never be normalised and a full Garda investigation should be carried out. The people of Mayo were warm and welcoming today and the Taoiseach really enjoyed meeting so many people across much of the county and thanks them for their time.”
A Garda spokesperson said today: “Gardai in Mayo are investigating all the circumstances of events which occurred in Westport, Co Mayo, yesterday, 2nd June 2024.
“An Garda Siochana has no further comment at this time.”
Election time
Speaking earlier yesterday, Harris said that “protest has an important role to play in any democracy” but that “there’s a difference between protest and an attempt to, I suppose, significantly disrupt.”
“But I think as people know about me, it takes an awful lot to disrupt my energy, and I certainly enjoyed continuing to talk to people in Castlebar, calling into cafes, calling into shops, getting out the message,” he said.
Harris added that Friday’s local and European elections are a chance for people to participate in the democratic process.
The Taoiseach also dismissed any suggestion that he could push for an earlier general election on the back of favourable opinion poll numbers.
Harris, who has previously made clear he would like to see the Government run full term into next year, said his position in relation to the timing of an election has not changed.
He was asked whether the results of the latest Ireland Thinks poll for the Sunday Independent had made him think about calling an early election.
The poll indicated Fine Gael and Sinn Fein are now neck and neck on 22% – with Harris’s party experiencing a three point increase in support in the last month, compared to a sharp seven point drop for Sinn Fein.
Fianna Fail was up one point to 17% while the largest grouping was represented by independents – on 23%.
Harris’s personal approval rating increased to 48% – level with Fianna Fail leader and Tanaiste Micheal Martin – while Sinn Fein President Mary Lou McDonald’s approval rating dropped four points to 36%.
The opinion poll asked voters how they would vote in a general election if it was called tomorrow.
Speaking to reporters in Co Mayo, Harris said he was advising his party faithful not to focus on opinion poll results and instead concentrate on the real elections.
“Of course, it’s always better to be up in a poll than down in a poll, but there’s a poll taking place on Friday,” he said.
“The only thing I want Fine Gael members and supporters to do in relation to the poll this weekend is not pay any attention and keep the eye on the fact that polls will open on Friday and there’ll be an opportunity for people to go out and vote in the local elections and in the European elections right across the country.”
In relation to the likely date of a general election, he added: “The position in relation to the timing of the next general election certainly hasn’t changed.
“This Government has a lot of work to do.
“I’ve tried to hit the ground running in terms of making progress on a number of issues. When it comes to housing, we’re now seeing 350 homes every working day be built in Ireland. We’ve managed over the last couple of weeks to take a number of steps including trying to improve services for children with a disability with additional investment into assessments of need.
“We’ve managed to make some progress on issues that people have been talking about for a long time in terms of recognising the state of Palestine.
“We’ve also managed to take I think a more balanced approach to migration in terms of taking a number of important decisions as well.
“We have a lot of work to do and I’m fully focused on it.”
Asked to respond to Sinn Fein’s apparent slide in the polls, Harris claimed the electorate was seeing through the party’s “noise” and “negativity”.
He also accused the main opposition party of consistently failing to explain to voters how they would achieve their own plans.
“They have one gear Sinn Fein – come in, shout and roar, that’s not going to help fix the challenges in our country,” he added.
- With reporting by David McRedmond and Rónán Duffy
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A pity he doesn’t sort out the chaotic mess that’s CUH in his own backyard, instead of traveling to northern Ireland
@K O: As Minister of Foreign Affairs travel such as this is a requirement of the job. There may be things to whine about in relation to Micheal Martin but complaining that he is doing his job is a new one.
Cant make it up, these lads continually slate sinn fein.
Yet they are happy to sit with them concerning the north. You can’t have stormont restoration
Without them. Bet he doesnt shout down michelle when others are watching. It’s all hand shakes and smiles.
Yet people believe his rhetoric.
@Colette Byrne: It is valid to differ with SF regarding its iffy economic policies while working alongside it towards a peaceful united Ireland.
@Colette Byrne: SF are Nationalists much like UKIP and so on. I go with Einstein’s opinion on Nationalists.
Hope they don’t use the bike shed contractors for this 1….
@Padraig Devaney: what about the electrion voting machine’s?
Between purchase and storage cost the taxpayer €54 million,then they were sold for NINE EUROS PER UNIT .
He an international high flyer, opinions on everything and no solution.
FF has made persistent effort and input into stable relationships with all who live on the island of Ireland.
@thomas molloy: FF the party of great relationships for sure, literally jumped into bed with bankers and developers and took this country to the brink in 2006 and then denied we ever bailed out said banks?
@thomas molloy: Let’s hope that we will have intelligent comment and discussion on the matter at hand rather than immature electioneering bl bl bla
@thomas molloy: you’re joking Right ?
@jak: The minute you mention your rear end Martin you are losing the argument.
@jak: It’s what you are talking through.
@Tom Newell:
Shin Fein voted on that night with the goverkment to Bale out the Bankers
Only Labour vote no to the Bale out.
“With the return of the institutions in Northern Ireland, and a renewed commitment to partnership from the British government, this is hugely important occasion to reflect on how far we have come and to drive forward the important work ahead.”
How can this important work be turned into petty electioneering bitchingg by anyone.
@thomas molloy: Can’t the so called “opposition PR departments” not see that petty electioneering is loosing the votes big time.
@thomas molloy: Will he mention, you know, the thing that he and his party dare not mention? Because we’ve had over 100 years of FF and FG saying it’s not the right time? Because we don’t want to upset the unionists? It’s time we created a new Ireland for everyone.
@Anthony Curran: The crux of the matter is that ‘we’ means different things to different people. Your concept of ‘we’ may not be the same as someone else’s.
@thomas molloy: how can you support a man who stood over one of the biggest scandals in this country, organ retention.
They stole from man, woman, and child. He stands in the dail, shouting and making slurs at sinn fein constantly, and other members of his party.
Yet you are saying what a great leader he is. Mary lou is the leader of the very party he is now going to pick the boots of.
Twofaced comes to mind.
No, he is not electionteering at all.
@Colette Byrne: lick
@Colette Byrne: How can you promote a party that is the political wing of an organisation that within living memory blew men, women and children to smithereens. I suppose that is excusable because it was all for the “cause”.
@Vincent Alexander: Did your parents or grandparents vote for the civil war parties of FF and FG, parties who murdered men, women and children?
@thomas molloy: That ship sailed a while ago!
@Vincent Alexander: The British government shot innocent people on the streets (bloody Sunday), and colluded with killers to murder people suspected of crimes. Are you suggesting that nobody talks to the British government?
@Anthony Curran:
See good Friday agreement for details.
@H Woo: Is that what your bot manual says?
A shyster who couldn’t tell the truth, even if his life depended on it!
He will yeah
@Brian Hunt. I presume you are referring to the Tainiste. I worked with Hillary in the UK and found him to be basically sound!
@Padraig O’Brien: No, I meant Mehole. Don’t know much about Hillary, but his father Tony Benn was much in the news. Didn’t like his politics much but he came across as a man of decency and integrity!
@Brian Hunt:
The great socialist who used expert financel advice to minimise inheritance taxes on the transfer of his wealth to his children.
@H Woo: That’s not a hanging offence, you’d probably do the same for your children!
have your say