Simon Harris | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Harris in 2024 | |
| 16th Taoiseach | |
| Assumed office 9 April 2024 | |
| President | Michael D. Higgins |
| Tánaiste | Micheál Martin |
| Preceded by | Leo Varadkar |
| Leader of Fine Gael | |
| Assumed office 24 March 2024 | |
| Deputy | |
| Preceded by | Leo Varadkar |
| Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science | |
| In office 27 June 2020 – 9 April 2024 | |
| Taoiseach |
|
| Preceded by | Office established |
| Succeeded by | Patrick O'Donovan |
| Minister for Justice | |
| In office 17 December 2022 – 1 June 2023 | |
| Taoiseach | Leo Varadkar |
| Preceded by | Heather Humphreys |
| Succeeded by | Helen McEntee |
| Minister for Health | |
| In office 6 May 2016 – 27 June 2020 | |
| Taoiseach |
|
| Preceded by | Leo Varadkar |
| Succeeded by | Stephen Donnelly |
| Minister of State | |
| 2014–2016 | Finance |
| Teachta Dála | |
| Assumed office February 2011 | |
| Constituency | Wicklow |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 17 October 1986 Greystones, County Wicklow, Ireland |
| Political party | Fine Gael |
| Other political affiliations | Fianna Fáil (before 2003) |
| Spouse |
Caoimhe Wade (m. 2017) |
| Children | 2 |
| Education | St David's Holy Faith |
| Alma mater | Dublin Institute of Technology (attended) |
| Website | Official website |
| ||
|---|---|---|
|
16th Taoiseach Incumbent Ministerial posts (2014–2024)
16th Taoiseach (2024–present)
|
||
Simon Harris (born 17 October 1986) is an Irish Fine Gael politician serving as Taoiseach and leader of Fine Gael since 2024. A TD for the Wicklow constituency since 2011, he served as a minister of state from 2014 to 2016 and as a minister since 2016.[1][2][3]
Born in Greystones, Harris was elected to Wicklow County Council in the 2009 local elections. He was elected to Dáil Éireann at the 2011 general election, becoming the "baby of the Dáil" at age 24, and was appointed Minister of State at the Department of Finance in 2014. Following the formation of a Fine Gael minority government in 2016, he was appointed Minister for Health.[4] On the formation of the coalition government in 2020, he was appointed Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science.[5] From December 2022 to June 2023, he also served as Minister for Justice during the maternity leave of Cabinet colleague Helen McEntee.
After Leo Varadkar resigned in March 2024, Harris was the only candidate in the 2024 Fine Gael leadership election. Appointed Taoiseach on 9 April 2024 at age 37, he became the youngest holder of the office in the state's history.[6] Due to his aptitude for social media[citation needed] , he has been dubbed the "TikTok Taoiseach".[7]
- ^ "Simon Harris". Oireachtas Members Database. Archived from the original on 4 May 2019. Retrieved 20 October 2011.
- ^ Collins, Stephen (2011). Nealon's Guide to the 31st Dáil and 24th Seanad. Dublin: Gill & Macmillan. p. 185. ISBN 9780717150595.
- ^ "Simon Harris". ElectionsIreland.org. Archived from the original on 12 June 2018. Retrieved 20 October 2011.
- ^ "Frances Fitzgerald is Tánaiste in new Cabinet". RTÉ News. 6 May 2016. Archived from the original on 7 May 2016. Retrieved 7 May 2016.
- ^ "Simon Harris Becomes Minister for Higher Education, Innovation and Research". 9thlevel.ie. 27 June 2020. Archived from the original on 28 June 2020. Retrieved 28 June 2020.
- ^ Murphy, Glen (9 April 2024). "In Pictures: Simon Harris becomes youngest Taoiseach in history of the State". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 9 April 2024. Retrieved 10 April 2024.
- ^ Webber, Jude (9 April 2024). "Ireland's 'TikTok Taoiseach' vows new social contract". The Financial Times. Retrieved 3 June 2024.