Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Tairgim:

Go n-ainmneoidh Dáil Éireann an Teachta Simon Harris chun a cheaptha ag an Uachtarán mar Thaoiseach.

I move:

That Dáil Éireann nominates Deputy Simon Harris for appointment by the President to be Taoiseach.

The first time I came to the Dáil was on 9 March 2011. Like any first-time TD, I was nervous. I was finding my feet and trying to get used to this place and all the new faces around me. I saw this young lad walking around the place and I said to myself, “Ah sure, he must be on a school tour or on work experience”. So you can imagine my surprise a few moments later when I saw him standing up to nominate Enda Kenny for the position of Taoiseach. It took me a few weeks to make my maiden speech. He did it on day one. Anyone who heard him that day would have known from the start that he would go far.

I have got to know Simon Harris very well over the past 13 years. It is a great honour for me to propose him to be our next Taoiseach. Contrary to popular belief, Simon did not always want to be a politician. When he was younger, he wanted to be a vet. As we all know, however, life takes us in different directions. Only yesterday evening I was at a meeting in Monaghan along with the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, Deputies Niamh Smyth and Brendan Smith and Senator Robbie Gallagher where we heard stories of difficulties being faced by the parents of children with autism. It is certainly not lost on me that I am standing here today nominating somebody to be Taoiseach who, because of their own life experience, was first inspired to get involved in politics to help people with autism and their families.

It is that sense of simply wanting to help, of breaking down barriers, and making life better for people that drives Simon Harris. I know, under his leadership, we will see a major focus on improving supports for people with disabilities. That is something I very much welcome.

I served alongside Simon in three different Cabinets. I witnessed first-hand the qualities and strengths I know he will bring to the office of An Taoiseach. He is somebody who listens and works with people and is always willing to take on new ideas. He has endless amounts of energy. He is someone who cares deeply about improving services for families, delivering opportunities for our young people, and creating the kind of society we all want to live in. In our country's darkest hours during the pandemic, Simon Harris displayed real leadership. He made the difficult decisions and those decisions saved lives. In his role as Minister for further and higher education, Simon has shown that regardless of your background or where you come from, everyone deserves an equal opportunity in life. Unlike those who will shout loudest today, Simon Harris was not born with a silver spoon in his mouth.

I know today is a proud day for Simon's family. I acknowledge in particular his wife Caoimhe, his two beautiful children, Saoirse and Cillian and his parents Mary and Bart. From my experience, taxi drivers normally have their fingers on the pulse. If I were to give Simon one piece of advice today, it would be to make sure he listens to his father.

I acknowledge the contribution that Leo Varadkar has made to Ireland. Leo was the Taoiseach this country needed when the pandemic hit us. The work he, along with Simon Coveney, put in day and night during the Brexit negotiations to ensure there would be no return to a hard Border on our island will never be forgotten. He is handing over a country at full employment and with a budget surplus. Of course, challenges remain and work goes on. Simon Harris is the right person to help Ireland face those challenges. I am very proud to nominate him for the position of Taoiseach.

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