Minister for Higher Education puts himself forward after securing overwhelming backing of parliamentary party
By the time Simon Harris officially put his name forward for the role of Fine Gael leader on Thursday he had been publicly endorsed by more than 35 of the party’s 54-strong parliamentary party.
Mr Harris said he wanted to bring energy and vigour to the role. “I want to really reconnect with our party right across the country. I want to get us back to core principles and deliver on the issues that matter to people in their daily lives.” Political Correspondent at The Irish Times, Cormac McQuinn, looks back at the career of Simon Harris.
Minister of State for Business Neale Richmond became the first TD to publicly back Mr Harris on Thursday morning, and his announcement came at the same time as a number of councillors and senators also gave the Minister for Higher Education their backing. Outgoing Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, speaking as he arrived for the European Union summit in Brussels, said he would not endorse any candidate.
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