‘Unity is not about cost..’
HARRIS HOPES TO SEE IT IN LIFETIME
COST should not be the overbearing factor in consideration of a united Ireland, Simon Harris has insisted.
The Fine Gael leader and incoming Taoiseach said that despite his view that reunification should not be a priority at the present time, he remained committed to the objective and hoped he would see it achieved in his lifetime.
Mr Harris said on Friday that achieving a united Ireland was not where his priorities currently lie.
He was responding to the findings of a new study from the Dublin-based Institute of International and European Affairs that suggested unification could cost the Irish government €20 billion a year for 20 years, with a 25 per cent increase in taxation potentially needed to shoulder the costs of uniting the island of Ireland.
“Instinctively, I want to see a united Ireland and cost isn’t the overbearing factor,” Mr Harris told RTE in response to the report’s findings.
But he stressed his priority was harnessing the “full potential” of the Good Friday Agreement and building better cross-border relations.
Mr Harris, who is set to become Taoiseach tomorrow, will attend a meeting of the North South Ministerial Council in Armagh today.
It will be Taoiseach Leo Varadkar’s last political engagement before formally tendering his resignation to the President of Ireland Michael D Higgins this evening.
Meanwhile, Mr Harris pledged to lead with a “new energy” as he vowed to hit the ground running as leader.
Pledge
In a wide-ranging speech at the close of the Ard Fheis at the University of Galway, Mr Harris identified housing, law and order, and support for small business as key priorities.
He addressed recent tensions in Ireland over increased immigration rates, as he pledged to oversee a “fair” but “firm” system to manage migration into the country.
Launching a broadside against Sinn Fein, he said the electorate in forthcoming local and European elections faced a stark choice between “opportunity and outright opportunism”.
TAOISEACH Leo Varadkar has backed calls by Simon Harris to increase the higher rate of income tax to €50,000, but suggested it may not happen in the next budget.
In his speech at the Fine Gael Ard Fheis at the University of Galway on Saturday, Mr Harris, the new Fine Gael leader and the incoming Taoiseach, said he wanted the threshold for which people pay tax at 41 per cent to be increased to €50,000.
It currently stands at €42,000.
Pay
Mr Harris said: “I am restating my ambition that nobody earning below €50,000 should pay the higher rate of income tax.
“Under my leadership we will reduce the burden of the USC on low and middle-income earners.”
Asked on Saturday if he thought it might be achievable to increase the cut off to €50,000 in the next budget, Mr Varadkar said he believed Simon Harris was talking about a longer-term ambition that is achievable.
AFTER 2,490 days since he became Taoiseach for the first time, today marks Leo Varadkar’s final day as the leader of Ireland.
In many ways, it is hard to believe it is nearly seven years since Ireland hit headlines for electing its first mixedrace, openly gay and youngest-ever Taoiseach in June 2017.
As he took over the reins from Enda Kenny, the world media was flooded with articles about how his tenure was a sign of how Ireland was becoming more progressive.
Nearly 2,500 days later, following two stints in the Taoiseach’s office, two and a half years as Tánaiste and five Cabinet ministries, Leo (45) leaves the stage to muted fanfare and a bloodless transition to Taoiseach-in-waiting Simon Harris.
Speaking in Brussels hours after he announced his resignation, Leo said it was too early to talk about his legacy. ‘NEW ENERGY’: Harris with FG colleagues after his speech
While the then Health Minister should not have had to declare his sexuality on national airwaves, the fact he was the first Cabinet minister to come out was an important moment.
When he became Taoiseach in 2017, one of his first pledges was to hold a referendum to repeal the 8th Amendment. The monumental campaign to allow abortion services in certain circumstances in 2018 will always be seen as part of his legacy. The return to full employment and the bouncing economy during the
Taoiseach’s
FULL OF HOPE: Harris arrives at Ard Fheis in Galway
time in office will also be seen as a highlight and, as Mr Varadkar said himself, may not be appreciated until long after he has departed.
Trust
His handling of Brexit, alongside Minister Simon Coveney, over several years and through several British prime ministers has also been heralded.
He worked through various issues while being seen as a “boogeyman” figure for unionists, while also being torn to shreds by the British press.
It was also remarkable that six weeks after Fine Gael lost 15 seats in February’s general election, Mr Varadkar managed to gain the trust of the nation during the Covid-19 pandemic and steady the ship.
For every highlight, however, some seriously low moments also shaped Mr Varadkar’s tenure.
While the handling of the pandemic should and must be investigated, mistakes were made such as the release of patients from hospitals into vulnerable nursing homes.
Mr Varadkar’s reputation was tarnished when it emerged he shared a GP agreement with a rival union group. The head of that group was a friend of Mr Varadkar.
Despite surviving a confidence motion in the Dáil in November 2020, he has never managed to shake the “Leo the leak” nickname.
As we reflect on one Taoiseach’s legacy, what the next Taoiseach may or may not achieve comes into focus.
Simon Harris will become Taoiseach tomorrow and appoint his Cabinet. One thing he will bring that has been missing under Mr Varadkar is energy.
It’s clear the fire had gone from Mr Varadkar’s eyes in recent months. The fire is burning under Simon Harris.
He will face similar issues as Mr Varadkar – crises in housing, health and the cost of living. But Fine Gael will be hoping that Mr Harris will bring a new lease of life to the party.