McGahon welcomed Paschal to breakfast before backing Simon Harris to become next Fine Gael leader

Senator John McGahon was one of Minister Harris’s early endorsers last Thursday as Fine Gael TD’s and Senators announced their support for a new leader of Fine Gael.

“I first met Simon in 2008 at a Young Fine Gael Summer School event in Carlingford, we have been friends for over 15 years and have served alongside each other in the Oireachtas for the last four years”.

I look at Simon’s record as a TD and a Minister and it’s clear that he was able to consistently deliver. Both as a Junior Minister in the Department of Finance, leading our country through the initial dark days of COVID as Health Minister and more recently, putting a huge push on the importance apprenticeships as Minister for Higher Education”.

“As Minister for Higher Education, Simon has been extremely supportive of DkIT and its mission for university status, he is also a big supporter of the regional skills training centre on the Coe’s Road and visited it recently to see the important work they are doing to increase and promote apprenticeships”.

“I believe that this chance of leadership will bring a moment of renewal and an opportunity to reconnect with people right across the country. I think Simon will focus on what we can get done between now and the end of term, which is March 2025 and how Government can deliver for people”.

“Simon has a huge amount of ability, energy and determination and I know he will take that with him into the role of Taoiseach. He has achieved so much in each of his Government roles and I know he will be able to do the same as Taoiseach.

This is an exciting time for Ireland, our youngest Taoiseach to date, with all the energy and enthusiasm of youth, coupled with the experience and ability that serving in three Government Departments has yielded concluded Senator McGahon.

Co-incidentially to the political earthquake of Leo Varadkar’s announcement on Wednesday, Senator McGahon had a business breakfast organised in the Ballymascanlon Hotel for Thursday morning, as which Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Paschal Donohoe was the keynote speaker.

With over 165 in attendance at Senator McGahon’s breakfast, many thought they would hear a leadership announcement from Minister Donohoe, however the Minister demurred when asked by the audience about a new job opportunity.

Speaking at the event, Minister Donohoe said “I am here this morning to support Senator John McGahon, John has been doing trojan work in the Seanad for the people of Dundalk and County Louth over the last four years and I am here to support him this morning, because we need John to be elected as a TD for County Louth after the next General Election.

“When I look at the future of my party and this country, I know it is in safe and capable hands, because we have people like John coming up through the ranks. John is an experienced politician, with a hard-working attitude and has a reputation for delivering results both here in County Louth and in Leinster House”.

Speaking after Minister Donohoe, Senator McGahon said “It’s been a whirlwind eighteen hours for people like Minister Donohoe, but I really wanted to thank him for still being here in Dundalk at 8am the following day. Minister Donohoe is one of the safest pairs of hands that the Government has had in recent years as he guided us through COVID at the head of the Department of Finance. He has always supported our businesses communities right around Ireland and I am really pleased that he is here today to hear about the success story that is Dundalk”.

Dundalk is right in the middle of the M1 Corridor between Dublin and Belfast, we are right at the heart of the economic engine of Ireland. We have a great story to tell, we have full employment, we have homes being built every week across town with more first-time buyers than ever before. We have DkIT moving towards university status coupled with great transport links.

“It’s clear to everyone that Dundalk is a great place to live, but we need to build on that success and make sure that Dundalk and County Louth return TDs who can continue to champion and promote our town at both a local and national level”, he concluded.