Harris backs Frances for return to Cabinet table

HEALTH Minister Simon Harris has said that he wants to see former tánaiste Frances Fitzgerald back at the Cabinet table.

It comes after Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe said Ms Fitzgerald ‘made a mistake’ in her handling of the Maurice McCabe email saga and that she made the right decision to resign. However, Mr Harris told the Irish Daily Mail that she has ‘an exemplary record’ and has not been afforded ‘due process’ in recent months amidst what he said was a frenzied political environment.

Mr Donohoe this week became one of the first Fine Gael ministers to depart from the position that Ms Fitzgerald ‘did nothing wrong’.

But his views do not appear to be shared by his colleagues, as the Health Minister predicted Ms Fitzgerald will play a ‘significant role’ in politics this year.

He said: ‘She has an exemplary record as minister and tánaiste. I think she is a great person and politician. I have no doubt she will continue to play a significant role in politics. I would love to see her back in Cabinet in due course.’

If not, he said, ‘there are lots of roles you can play outside of Cabinet’ – adding: ‘I have no doubt that Frances will play her role.’

There have been suggestions Ms Fitzgerald will be asked to play a key part in the upcoming abortion debate ahead of a referendum.

‘I don’t think she needs anyone to ask her to play a role; she has been working on the issues of women’s rights since before I was born,’ Mr Harris said.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar strongly hinted at a parliamentary party meeting that he saw a political future ahead for Ms Fitzgerald, insisting that ‘her time at the top level of politics could come again’.