‘I’m in, I want to be the next leader’ – Simon Harris declares Fine Gael leadership bid paving way to become next taoiseach

"I’m in, I want to be the next leader of Fine Gael. I’m ready to step up and I’m ready to serve,” he said.

Mr Harris said he was “overwhelmed, honoured and a little taken aback” by the support he received from his Fine Gael colleagues and the party membership.

“I’m extremely grateful for the level of support that I've received today from all strands of our party,” he told RTÉ’s Six One News.

“I really thank them for that.”

He received support from more than half the 54 members of the Fine Gael parliamentary party. Fellow leadership contenders Helen McEntee and Heather Humphreys ruled themselves out of the race and publicly backed Mr Harris.

Public Expenditure Minister Paschal Donohoe also said he would not be in the running to replace Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, giving Mr Harris a clear run at the role.

“I am humbled and honoured to have received the support from so many members of the parliamentary party, councillors and members across the country throughout the course of the last 24 hours,” Mr Harris said.

“I want to thank them for placing their trust in me and I am confirming that I will be seeking to become the next leader of Fine Gael.”

He said he wanted to listen to Fine Gael members and “get back to core principles”, adding a change in leadership offers a “moment of renewal” for the party.

"I want to work with colleagues. I want to listen, I want to really reconnect with our party right across the country. And I want to get us back to core principles, in terms of delivering on the issues that matter to people in their daily lives.

“But I also don't want to take anything for granted. I'm here tonight to say that I'm putting my name forward.

“I'm here tonight to thank my colleagues for the support they've shown me and I'm here tonight to pay tribute to the work of Leo Varadkar and thank him for his service.”

Though he has received the backing of the majority of the parliamentary party, Mr Harris said he is ready for a leadership contest if it does come about.

“I'm ready for whatever the next few days may throw up in that regard. The party rules are very clear in terms of anybody wishing to put their name forward.”

Asked what would make his leadership different from that of Mr Varadkar, Mr Harris said each person brings their own personal qualities to the role.

"I want to bring an energy and an enthusiasm to the leadership of Fine Gael, but I also want to bring my practical life experience. You know, I got involved in politics somewhat accidentally, I'm an accidental politician in many ways.

"When my brother was born with special educational needs, I started campaigning in my area to deliver better educational services for kids with autism.

"I know what difference politics can make and I want to bring those personal values to the office of leader of Fine Gael and to any role that I may play in Irish politics.”

Mr Harris denied that there was an orchestration to his leadership bid.

“It may look like that, it certainly didn’t feel like that over the last 24 hours,” he said of his campaign, saying it was came as a shock when Mr Varadkar announced he was stepping down.

Mr Harris said he would not call a general election if elected Fine Gael leader and Taoiseach, and committed to the Government seeing out its full term.

“Our Constitution is very clear in relation to this. Governments have changed many times outside of the election cycle. There’s due to be a general election within the next year, there will be a general election within the next year.

“I’m certainly committed, as I know my party is and as I believe the other parties in Government are to continuing the work of Government and the programme for Government, because a programme for Government isn’t negotiated between individual party leaders, it’s an agreement that exists between Fine Gael, Fianna Fáil and the Green Party.”

Speaking to Virgin Media TV’s The Tonight Show, Mr Harris said Irish politics has become “too personal” in recent years.

“It's become in many ways too presidential. We need to tone it down and this is about getting stuff done. We have a programme for Government, we need to implement the programme for Government,” he said.

“We need to work together, we need to dial it down, all of us, when it comes to rhetoric and toxicity. I think it’s really off-putting for the public, quite frankly. I want to get things done; I’ve shown an ability to work with people of all political persuasions in terms of trying to get things done in Dáil Éireann.”

He ruled out any chance of Fine Gael entering government with Sinn Féin following the next general election.

“That’s an OK thing. It’s OK to have different ideas, it’s OK to have different policies and it’s OK to say there’ll be a real choice on offer to the Irish people in the next election. I think that’s something people of all different political persuasions can relate to.”

On Fine Gael’s chances in the next general election and the prospect of entering opposition in 12 months’ time, Mr Harris rejected the idea taking on the party leadership now is a “poisoned chalice”.

“I can’t understand the logic of anybody who says public service is a poisoned chalice. I certainly didn’t get involved in politics for a quiet life. I’ve never been known to be one to shirk a challenge and if given the opportunity to serve in any role, including as leader of Fine Gael, we get involved to make a difference.”

Mr Harris acknowledged there are challenges – including the cost of living and homelessness – facing the country but was positive on the efforts of Fine Gael in government since 2011.

“There are huge challenges that our country faces but I’m also very proud of the contribution Fine Gael has made in a number of governments over the last several years,” he said.

“It’s a very different Ireland to the Ireland that I first experienced when first elected to Dáil Éireann – 15pc unemployment, people were worried about mortgage arrears or repossessions, significant emigration, the collapse of the construction sector.

“We now have more than 500 people a week buying their first home.”

Mr Harris said he put himself forward for the Fine Gael leadership “well aware of the scale” of the challenges Ireland faces.

“I’m absolutely committing myself to the need to do better, the need to listen and the need to bring humility to Irish politics,” he said.

Mr Harris had already passed the threshold of six parliamentary party members before 9am on Thursday morning - before nominations formally opened at 10am - after early public declarations of support from Minister Neale Richmond, TDs Emer Higgins and Frank Feighan, senators Barry Ward, Martin Conway, John McGahon, Tim Lombard and Mary Seery Kearney, and MEPs Maria Walsh and Frances Fitzgerald.

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Justice Minister McEntee ruled herself out of the leadership race on Thursday morning.

Speaking on LMFM, she said she will support "whoever puts themselves forward".

She said she made the decision "a year or two ago" that she would not be contesting any leadership race.

Dublin Mid-West TD Emer Higgins has also declared she is backing Mr Harris.

Ms Higgins told the Irish Independent: “In 2010, I shared an office with Simon, and 13 years ago, I knew he had what it takes to be Taoiseach and I told him some he'd be Taoiseach.

“That moment has arrived. I've seen his dedication and hard work up close, I'm confident in his ability to lead our party and our country with energy and instinct.”

Dublin South Central-based Senator Mary Seery Kearney said: "I am supporting and endorsing Simon Harris.”

Mr Harris is expected to secure further endorsements throughout Thursday.

He is expected to formally declare his ambition to succeed Leo Varadkar as Fine Gael leader and Taoiseach later in the day.

Mr Harris will be backed by a series of Fine Gael figures this morning as he aims to lock down the party leadership for which he is now the clear frontrunner.

The Higher Education Minister will seek to replicate the campaign tactic of Leo Varadkar when he became leader.

Neale Richmond was the first out of the blocks and it is understood junior minister Peter Burke will also lend his support.

Fine Gael MEP and former deputy leader Frances Fitzgerald will back her former protege later this morning.

Senators Martin Conway and Tim Lombard will also be backing Mr Harris.

Mr Harris will announce his intention to run for the leadership later this morning.

But it is unclear if there will be a contest as Cabinet ministers Paschal Donohoe, Heather Humphreys and Helen McEntee have yet to state their intentions.

Mr Harris has emerged as the clear frontrunner to become Taoiseach next month after Mr Varadkar rocked the Coalition by resigning in a bid to ­salvage Fine Gael’s electoral prospects.

Mr Varadkar quit after determining Fine Gael was facing damaging seat losses under his leadership in June’s local and European elections – an outcome that could have precipitated a move against him.

“I couldn’t find anyone to stab me in the back, so I fell on my sword instead,” Mr Varadkar told an emotional Fine Gael parliamentary meeting last night as he thanked TDs and senators for their support.

Mr Harris is now the clear ­favourite to succeed him, with well-placed sources telling the Irish Independent that as many as 20 of the 54 members of the Fine Gael parliamentary party have already pledged their support to the Higher Education Minister.

He could declare his plan to contest for the leadership as early as today and it is expected that some TDs and Senators backing him will publicly declare their support for the minister over the next 48 hours.

The Irish Independent understands that junior minister Peter Burke, who was considered an outside shot for a leadership bid, is to declare his support for Simon Harris to become Fine Gael leader on Thursday morning.

He is expected to be the first of several public declarations of support for Mr Harris from members of the 54-strong Fine Gael parliamentary party.

Speaking on RTÉ Radio One’s Morning Ireland on Thursday, Fine Gael Dublin-Rathdown TD and Minister for State for Enterprise Neale Richmond backed Mr Harris for the leadership, appealing to him on air to declare his intention to run.

He said among Mr Harris's achievements are his time as health minister during the Covid-19 pandemic and the work he currently does as Minister for Further and Higher Education.

Asked if Mr Harris represented 'more of the same', Mr Richmond said: "Simon is something different."

He said he would welcome a contest between Fine Gael candidates, but added "I do think Simon Harris is the best person for the job".

Earlier, Fine Gael parliamentary party chairman Alan Dillon would not be pressed on who he would back, but he said he expected there would be a contest for the leadership.

The president of Young Fine Gael, Eoghan Gallagher, has come out in support of Mr Harris.

And on Instagram, Dublin councillor Emma Blain backed Mr Harris, saying: “I’ve known him for many, many years, (long before his hair went silver) and he is undoubtedly the most dedicated, most committed and hard working politician I’ve ever known.

“He’s personable and proactive, and hugely supportive of all colleagues at all levels. His record speaks for itself, and for these reasons, and many, many more, I think Simon Harris is the best person to lead Fine Gael and the country into the future.”

Any candidate who secures the support of the majority of the parliamentary party would be well-placed to win a contest given that the votes of TDs, Senators and MEPs account for 65pc of the total vote.

The Fine Gael executive council was meeting late last night to set the ground rules for a contest, with nominations to open today and expected to close on Monday at 1pm.

Enterprise Minister Simon Coveney ruled himself out of the race last night but Public Expenditure Minister Paschal Donohoe was remaining tight-lipped.

His withdrawal from a planned appearance on RTÉ News fuelled speculation he is considering contesting against Mr Harris amid suggestions some TDs were urging him to do so.

Mr Varadkar said he had been considering his future since Christmas but firmly decided to step down only at the weekend.

He shocked the two other Coalition leaders and some ministerial colleagues when he informed them of his plans on Tuesday night.

“After seven years in office, I am no longer the best person for that job,” a visibly emotional Mr Varadkar said at a dramatic midday press conference in Government Buildings.

Cabinet colleagues believe Mr Varadkar’s decision was crystallised by the two referendum defeats nearly a fortnight ago, the slew of Fine Gael TDs retiring at the next election, and the prospect of more damaging electoral losses in June – all of which may have led to a heave against him in advance of the next general election.

There was also a view among figures in the Government that Mr Varadkar had not embraced his second spell as Taoiseach with as much enthusiasm as his first term.

“He seemed slightly distracted and just not energised by it,” a cabinet ­minister said.

A source close to Mr Varadkar said last night: “The principal motivation for the timing was to have a new leader in place for the ard fheis to set out their stall. Once he’d made up his mind, he was determined to go ahead with it.”

Mr Varadkar said his reasons were “both personal and political” and later told reporters he had been weighing up stepping down since the Christmas and new-year period. He insisted he had definitively decided to resign only last weekend as he concluded his St Patrick’s Day trip to the US.

He ruled himself out of becoming the next European Commissioner and said he had not decided whether to run again in Dublin West.

It is widely expected he will step down from the Dáil at the next general election.

Fine Gael will install a new leader in advance of its ard fheis on April 6 and that person will be expected to become taoiseach early the following week.

A senior figure in Fine Gael said: “Paschal and Coveney had a conclave and decided only one or other of them will run. They know Harris is the man to beat.”

Mr Coveney’s allies denied this, but Mr Donohoe’s supporters remained largely silent.

A source close to Mr Donohoe said he was focused on his existing role as Public Expenditure Minister and Eurogroup chair.

There was no comment from other possible contenders including Justice Minister Helen McEntee and Social Protection Minister Heather Humphreys.

Junior Finance Minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill has also been mentioned as an outside possibility, although one source suggested she could become deputy leader.

Tánaiste Micheál Martin and Green Party leader Eamon Ryan were blindsided on Tuesday night when Mr Varadkar told them of his decision, with Mr Martin admitting he was “very surprised”.

Both party leaders said they wanted the Coalition to run the full term to March next year despite the change of leader in Fine Gael, which is likely to fuel speculation of an earlier general election.

The news sent shockwaves throughout the Government yesterday morning, with Fianna Fáil and Green Party ministerial advisers in the dark as Fine Gael scrambled to plan the announcement.

Sinn Féin called for an immediate general election – a view echoed by the Social Democrats, Labour and other opposition politicians.