Dáil Confirms Simon Harris As Ireland’s New Taoiseach

Ireland’s Dáil voted to ratify Fine Gael leader Simon Harris as the nation’s Taoiseach, the youngest in the country’s history

The 37 year old politician and father of two secured the position with an 88 to 69 vote, elected following former Taoiseach Leo Varadkar’s abrupt resignation just three weeks ago.

Tuesday afternoon Harris made his way to meet with Irish President Michael D. Higgins to officially take on the mantle. This formality included receiving the Warrant of Appointment and the Seals of the Taoiseach and Government, before marking his official entry as the 15th Taoiseach in a ceremony at Dublin’s Phoenix Park.

Reflecting on his new role, Harris addressed the Dáil: “I do accept this nomination to serve as Taoiseach and I commit to doing everything that I can to honour the trust that you have placed in me today.”

Harris is poised to navigate the coalition government comprising Fine Gael, Fianna Fáil, and the Green Party. With the general election looming and less than a year in his term, Harris has committed to addressing core societal issues, including support for small businesses, agriculture, and enhancing public safety.

Opposition members, however, have criticised the timing, calling for an immediate general election, but Harris plans to fulfil his coalition’s mandate until March 2025.