Political advisers and former journalists to form part of Simon Harris backroom team

Presumptive taoiseach Simon Harris has poached a key adviser from the Green Party to come on board as part of his backroom team.

Jack O’Donnell, who had been working as an adviser to Green Party super-junior minister Pippa Hackett, is to join the expanding team being lined up to work with Mr Harris after his anticipated election as taoiseach next Tuesday.

Mr O’Donnell is a former special adviser to Eoghan Murphy during the latter’s time in the Department of Housing, and previously worked in Government Buildings with Enda Kenny when he was Taoiseach.

He will join a group of advisers including Chris Donoghue, who until recently worked with Minister for Enterprise Simon Coveney, but who is now set to be appointed as Government press secretary.

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On Tuesday, Mr Coveney announced that he will not seek reappointment to Mr Harris’ Cabinet next week, freeing up a second full portfolio to fill alongside the one vacated by the incoming taoiseach, who was elected as Fine Gael leader late last month after Leo Varadkar’s surprise resignation.

It is expected that former Irish Times journalist Sarah Bardon and Mr Harris’ former adviser in the Department of Health, Joanne Lonergan, will be the most senior advisers to the Wicklow TD. Ms Bardon has worked with Mr Harris since 2018, while Ms Lonergan left politics to work in public relations consultancy for a period but is expected to rejoin the team.

Irish Examiner journalist Ciara Phelan is to join as deputy Government press secretary, while two members of Mr Varadkar’s staff, Clare Mungovan and Matt Lynch, are expected to remain. Another former adviser to Mr Harris, Majella Fitzpatrick, is tipped to rejoin him.

Mr Harris is also said to be eyeing an economic adviser, likely to operate on a part-time basis similar to the role filled by Prof Alan Ahearne in the Tánaiste’s office.

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