Harris branded 'no-show' Taoiseach after missing Leaders' Questions on first day

New Fine Gael leader Simon Harris leaving Aras an Uachtarain after meeting the President of Ireland Michael D Higgins to receive the seal of office after being appointed Ireland’s new Taoiseach.

There was widespread criticism of Simon Harris in the Dáil today after the new Taoiseach failed to turn up for Leaders’ Questions on his first day in the job.

Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald noted that Mr Harris’s last words yesterday were “Let us get to work,” but TDs turned up today to find that the new Taoiseach was a “no-show”.

“We have a lot of work to do and the Government has a lot of questions to answer, yet the Taoiseach has not shown up. This is wholly unacceptable,” she told the Dáil.

Mr Harris was absent after the Government proposed a change to the day’s business that dropped Leaders’ Questions and replaced it with a motion on a European regulation on human trafficking.

Chief Whip Hildegarde Naughton said the Taoiseach was unavailable because he had scheduled a number of telephone calls to British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, First Minister Michelle O’Neill, and her deputy Emma Little-Pengelly.

However, this was not accepted and Ms McDonald sought clarification that Mr Harris was “not present at his work with us because he had to make three phone calls”.

Independent TD Catherine Murphy was also critical of the change to Dáil business, and remarked: “This is not the way to start with a new Taoiseach and a new regime.”

Mattie McGrath described the situation as a “farce”, and said: “We are in GUBU territory, I think, when we see this empty chair here,” referring to Mr Harris’s seat in the chamber.

“This is total disrespect for the House. We should go over to the wax museum and get a model made and put it in here,” he added.

Ms McDonald also described the Taoiseach’s absence as “an absolute disgrace”.

“Government members waxed lyrical yesterday about the incoming Taoiseach, Deputy Simon Harris. Apparently, he was going to do in 10 months what they failed to do in 13 years,” she said.

“It was all about moving mountains and getting straight to work and, today, he has not shown up.

“I want to know where the Taoiseach is. Yesterday, he said he would be getting straight to work, that he would be moving mountains, and there was no challenge too great.

“We are here today, we have shown up to do our jobs, we have shown up for work, and where is the Taoiseach? He ought to be here, taking questions and dealing with the issues that matter to the people.”

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