Simon Harris as Taoiseach – implications for Fine Gael’s top brass
On Wednesday, 20 March, Leo Varadkar announced his intention to resign as Taoiseach and as leader of Fine Gael. In the days since, Simon Harris, the current Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science has been selected as the new leader of Fine Gael. Subject to ratification by Dáil Éireann (Ireland’s Lower House of Parliament) – which is likely to take place on 9 April – Harris will also become the next Taoiseach.
While all Fianna Fáil and Green Party ministers will almost certainly remain the same, this provides an opportunity for Harris to reshuffle the Fine Gael pack and stamp his authority on the party. At the very least, he will be required to fill the seat at Cabinet left by the departing Leo Varadkar, who has confirmed that he will not be taking up a ministerial role following resignation as Taoiseach. With Harris in line to assume the role of Taoiseach, this will leave a vacancy to be filled at the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science.
It is also understood that any current minister who does not intend for re-election could be moved out of their ministerial position. This appears to rule out Kerry TD Brendan Griffin, who reaffirmed his previously stated intention to step away from politics. Meanwhile, Simon Coveney, the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, has moved quickly to clarify rumours about his political future and confirmed that he does intend to stand in the next general election. In the case of Coveney’s ministry being under threat from the change in party leadership, Neale Richmond would be the most likely successor to take over the Enterprise brief given his junior ministry in this department.
Much of the speculation regarding cabinet changes has surrounded the position of Justice Minister Helen McEntee, who has endured a difficult period since returning from maternity leave. She is the face and defender in chief of the government’s unpopular hate speech legislation, of which Sinn Féin have now come out in opposition of. She was also heavily criticised for her leadership in the aftermath of the Dublin riots last November. Depending on Harris’ calculation about repercussions within the Fine Gael party, he may either elect to:
- move McEntee sideways – out of Justice and into another ministerial portfolio; or
- demote her to the role of junior minister.
In the case of McEntee being moved sideways, potentially to Harris’ most recent brief of Further and Higher Education, current Minister of State for European Union Affairs & Defence Peter Burke has been widely considered as a frontrunner for a senior ministerial post. Minister Burke has proven to be an assertive performer and now combines that with sufficient experience, placing him at the forefront of candidates to become the next Minister for Justice.