The first 100 days… and then the last 100 days

The first 100 days of a new leader is seen as a critical period, when he or she can lay down their mark and signal the direction of the Government they lead.

The problem with Simon Harris is the first 100 days won’t be an indicator; it could be almost half of his entire period in the office of the Taoiseach. So if he is going to leave a mark as Taoiseach, from today onwards he is going to have to hit the ground running, moving at the speed of the Road Runner rather than Wile E Coyote. Of course, while speed is never in question with Harris, it is substance that focuses the mind of The Irish Times this morning.

Our lead this morning focuses mainly on yesterday’s events in Leinster House and Áras an Uachtaráin, one of those formal days that reminded us of the nature of our democracy, the appointment of a Taoiseach and the Cabinet and their receipt of their seals of office from the President.

It gives first preference, however, to the other very significant moment yesterday when Tánaiste Micheál Martin confirmed that Ireland will soon formally recognise the State of Palestine. We will return to that presently.

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Yesterday, the scope for Harris to set out his stall was limited. He again stayed true to generalities and aspirational language: “Today, I recommit to moving mountains to help build more homes and drive more home ownership.” There was more of that in his speech.

The Irish Times editorial did not soft soap it when spelling out the qualities Harris will need to show if he is to step up to senior hurling.

It thundered: “A striking feature of Harris’s rapid ascent is how few substantive achievements he has had to show along the way. His eight years in Cabinet have not included significant economic or financial portfolios. An impressive performance during the early months of the pandemic do not fully obscure an otherwise underwhelming tenure in the Department of Health. Nor has he had the opportunity to articulate a full vision of Ireland’s place on the international stage, in particular its relationship with the EU and the post-Brexit UK. It remains to be seen how well-developed are his positions on the delicate state of political affairs in Northern Ireland.

“What does Simon Harris stand for? His performance since he became leader has done little to answer the question. The callow banalities in which he indulged in his ardfheis speech may have elicited whoops from the party faithful, but did little to suggest that here was a politician of substance. A vow to increase the number of homes built in the State to 250,000 over five years, contradicting everything this Government had previously said, smacked of unseriousness.”

Ouch. Hardly a ringing endorsement. He will hope that the next 99 days will lead to the an improvement in that dim view.

A bigger shuffle of the pack for junior ministers

The new Taoiseach had limited scope when it came to changes in the senior Cabinet, with only two positions open.

Peter Burke, the Longford-Westmeath TD, was nailed on to become Minister for Enterprise after impressing as Minister of State for European Affairs.

There were a number of ambitious TDs in the running for the other remaining slot, Harris’s former portfolio of Higher and Further Education, including Hildegarde Naughton, Neale Richmond, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill and Patrick O’Donovan.

In the event, it came down to a choice between two: Naughton and O’Donovan, with the Limerick county TD getting the nod. O’Donovan can be a spiky customer and is not everybody’s cup of tea although he is competent. The lack of elevation for Naughton means it is a long time – 13 years – since the State’s third largest county, Galway, has had a senior minister. She will get some additional duties as Chief Whip including special education, and a role as ‘minister for the west’ but will no doubt be disappointed.

Harris will have more scope in the junior ministerial appointments. There are three vacancies caused by promotions, and the resignation of Josepha Madigan. Jennifer Carroll Mac Neill becomes the new European Affairs junior minister, even though she might have expected more. Richmond will move into her previous slot in Finance. The three TDs being tipped for promotion are the impressive Alan Dillon (Mayo), as well as Eimear Higgins (Dublin Mid West) and Colm Burke (Cork North Central). At least one of the incumbents may be vulnerable.

The Palestinian state

Another key moment in Irish politics, a bold international move to recognise a state that currently exists only as two fragmented parcels of land, one of which has been destroyed almost out of existence. As that happened, the Israeli government went for a land grab (illegal, of course) of another 2,000 acres of land in the West Bank.

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin announced his intention to recognise the Palestinian State in the Dáil yesterday.

He told the Dáil delays on giving recognition was “not credible or tenable any longer”.

He has been in discussions with other countries involved in peace initiatives in Gaza and will bring proposals to Government on this matter soon.

“But be in no doubt recognition of a Palestinian State will happen,” he said.

The move was welcomed by the opposition. Matt Carthy of Sinn Féin tweeted that it still fell short of a firm declaration and added:

“There may be no Palestine left to recognise unless Ireland and the international community act decisively and immediately. No more delays.”

Best reads and podcasts

Miriam Lord sums up the day wryly. “The Taoiseach made his fourth speech, aka Aspirations Once Again, and announced his new signings,” says it all.

Pat Leahy has an on-the-pulse analysis on the formidable challenges that face the new Taoiseach. He says his youth will not be a bar because he is already experienced.

Leahy points out an “important truth” about this Coalition. “Its constituent parts will be, as we approach the next election, simultaneously electoral rivals and Government allies. That is going to be tricky to navigate. It is one of the chief conundrums facing the new Taoiseach.”

Podcast: Hugh Linehan discusses the significance of yesterday’s events and appointments with Pat Leahy and Jennifer Bray.

Marie O’Halloran’s account of the dramatic events in the Dáil as Harris pledges to be ‘Taoiseach for all’ no matter their political view.

Jennifer Bray on the five landmines that lie ahead.

Cormac McQuinn has profiles of the four new key appointments yesterday.

Kathy Sheridan on the prospects of the emergence of a right-wing party, or Progressive Democrats 2.0.

Playbook

Simon Harris goes to Brussels tomorrow to meet Ursula von der Leyen. The Government will also announce the new ministers of State today.

Dáil

A truncated schedule today with only six and half sitting hours.

14:02: Motion on a proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on enhancing police co-operation in relation to the crimes of migrant smuggling and trafficking in human beings.

14:59: Minister for Finance Michael McGrath will take oral questions.

16:29: Future Ireland Fund and Infrastructure, Climate and Nature Fund Bill 2024 – Second Stage (Department of Finance)

20:34: Dáil adjourns

The Seanad is not sitting today. It returns tomorrow.

Committees

Two Ministers, Darragh O’Brien and Norma Foley, appear before committees today. However, the big draw will be former president Mary McAleese who will be among the many people speaking about the ongoing talks to merge the GAA, LGFA and Camogie Association.

09.30: Enterprise

Pre-legislative scrutiny of the general scheme of the Employment (Restriction of Certain Mandatory Retirement Ages) Bill 2024

09.30: Health

Funding and implementation of the National Cancer Strategy.

09.30: Social Protection

Impact of Means Testing on the State Pension and other Social Welfare Schemes

13:00: Select Committee on Housing

Committee Stage consideration of the Planning and Development Bill 2023 (resumed) with Darragh O’Brien, Minister for Housing.

13.30 Finance

Detailed scrutiny of the Illegal Israeli Settlements Divestment Bill 2023 (resumed)

13.30: Tourism, Arts, Sports and Media

The integration of the Ladies Gaelic Football Association and Camogie Association with the Gaelic Athletic Association.

Former president Mary McAleese will attend the hearing in her role as chair of the integration steering committee.

17.30: Education

Discussion on Key Issues for the Department of Education with Norma Foley, Minister for Education..

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