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HEALTH MINISTER SIMON Harris has said he is not worried that a possible future motion of no confidence in him could bring about an early general election.
Opposition members are understood to be considering tabling a motion of no confidence against the health minister in the new year.
A similar motion against Housing Minister Eoghan Murphy was defeated last week, but only by a narrow figure.
With the resignation of the embattled Cork Fine Gael TD Dara Murphy from the Dáil and John McGuinness’s promise last week that he would break ranks with his Fianna Fáil colleagues and vote against the government next time out, the result of the next confidence vote will be far tighter.
Some in Leinster House are now speculating another such motion, this time tabled against Harris, could pass, resulting in the Taoiseach deciding to call an early election.
While in practice the government could simply replace a minister in the event of them losing a confidence vote, during last week’s motion the government line was that the motion concerning the housing minister was a ‘proxy’ vote on the government.
A government spokesperson stated that if the motion were to pass, the government could not operate or function, and that the Taoiseach would seek to call an election.
When asked about a possible future motion of no confidence being tabled against him and whether he was worried it would bring about an election, Harris told TheJournal.ie yesterday:
“No, only the opposition can cause one if they decide to put down a motion.”
Harris said an general election would take place in 2020, but would not go into specific dates, other than stating it will be in the first half of the year.
“I am so looking forward to the point in 2020 where we have a general election,” he said - adding that the media, while scrutinising government health policy, must also scrutinise the opposition’s promises when it comes to health.
“I am so looking forward to it. I am so looking forward to it, because you’re going to get to see through the opposition,” he said.
He also said he “can’t wait” to “go head-to-head with the opposition” in relation to issues regarding health, housing, and indeed a raft of other issues.
“So bring that on,” he said.
In relation to should the opposition decide to engage in any more political stunts, that’s entirely a matter for them.
The health minister said that he would “proudly stand over” the progress the government had made on health, citing achievements like free GP care for children
I’m looking forward to that debate, and I’m looking forward to hearing other people put forward alternatives, because that’s what they’re going to actually have to do and we haven’t seen that from the opposition, so we’ll have a chance to have that contest.
In the run up to the next general election, Harris said Fine Gael will have an opportunity to present “very ambitious plans” in relation to health care
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About time, a waste of space and a usless tool
@Justin Hanley: don’t woot ffg will ensure he stays put
@Justin Hanley: A college failure who never had a real job in his life who served his time preparing tea and sandwiches for older FG politicians.
He is now in charge of one of the largest budgets in the country. Some very wrong with that picture.
@David Corrigan: and failing miserably at the task too.
@David Corrigan:
Forgive my ignorance, but what was his failure in college?
@Nollaig Elliot: he never finished college. He was a drop out
@Nollaig Elliot: He never finished college Nollaig.
@Justin Hanley: Bang on , sure he was only Frances Fitzgerald’s tea boy a collage dropout with no experience . Mesmerising and puzzling to say the least .
@Joe Mc: in fairness, Bill Gates and Jeff Bezos were college dropouts. There is no minimum education requirement to be a TD. I also draw your attention to James Reilly who was an actual doctor and was the worst minister for health out of all of them.
@David Corrigan: a college failure? He dropped out yea but did did a huge amount of local work which got him in.
As for running the largest department, having a qualification in business/finance or medicine does not make a good health ministers, plenty of pas examples. Harney studied Economics, Reilly studied medicine, plenty studied social science and arts but very few got it right.
You also forget the premise that the government is run by the people and isn’t an elitist organization that prevents people from being involved
@Shawn O’Ceallaghan: That is why the country is a basket case Shawn. We have to start looking at a minimum requirement for politicians going forward for election. There is no accountability within our political system. The characters you mentioned were given the job, failed miserably but still have massive pensions and lump sum payments in the bank for achieving nothing. We have Murphy claiming salary and expenses for two years even though he did no work. He swanned off and nobody can touch him.
The whole thing is wrong.
@David Corrigan:
And he goes on to say that FG will have “very ambitious plans” in relation to health care in the run up to the next GE.
I wonder will those plans be as ambitious as his college track record, or as ambitious as FG’s current track record for health?
@Shawn O’Ceallaghan: this country is run by a few ppl unfortunately, greedy ones including those who so called represent the ppl..
@Joe Mc: so what,loads of people leave college it’s not a crime ,it doesn’t suit everyone
@Shawn O’Ceallaghan: He promised his constituents that he would vote against any proposals that would lead to abortion, that played a big part in getting elected, he wrote them all a letter. He then, obviously, changed his position. Lot’s of people don’t like him for that. Also, college dropout or not (it’s irrelevant really, as someone said, James Reilly was an actual doctor-that made no difference) he’s a crap Minister for Health.
He thinks that giving a bigger budget every year to the HSE is a sign that we’e got a world class health system etc etc (plenty of evidence as to why that’s not true, but there are areas where we are very good too). It’s not about the budget you give, it’s about who you give it to. The HSE is riddled with incompetent people that have no clue how to make proper budgetary decisions or run things with the health of the patient/population in mind. There’s boards and sub-boards in each hospital and region and then at a national level that aren’t joined up- there’s at least a double layer of management that’s not needed and while that’s not a massive cost issue in the grand scheme of things, it’s having a negative effect on effective decision making.
Call a no confidence vote by all means, it won’t achieve anything, he’ll survive. We’ve got this government until May. John McGuinnes can say what he wants, if he wants to be the main man in FF then this isn’t the way to go about it, he’ll eventually vote with the FF party on this one.
@Justin Hanley: all of the Japanese politicians have third level qualifications. The minister for finance is always someone they had run a business. I read an article in which it was put to them we had a primary school teacher as leader and most of the Dail is full of people who either failed or didn’t complete their 3rd level education. They couldn’t believe it.
@David Corrigan: picture the scenario…Big pharma meeting…top hand picked execs versus Simon the un healthy minister for health…I wonder who’d come out best???
Unlikely it would be failed college course Simon …our system is so broken.
Ah don’t worry Simon, FF will keep you there, and when the GE come next year, the good old people of Ireland will vote all the good old useless peoe back in,
@Mick Hannigan: pretty much accurate unfortunately
@Mick Hannigan: Pretty much. Every time there’s a vote called against one of them their colleagues support them, so why would he be worried? It’s just one big happy family.
This is the legacy of the dullard Enda Kenny and the games politicians play due to their arrogance. Incompetence heaped on incompetence. But the saddest thing is they don’t realise that they are incompetent. God bless us all.
@Me Darlin’ Dublin: They pay “advisers” and hacks to tell them they are brilliant.
He’s as useful as an ashtray on a bicycle,the man should be ashamed of himself.
@Paul Mc: Typical arrogance from FFG
Leo and co will circle the wagons. Fianna fail will sit on their hands and we’ll carry on.
Nobody has any confidence in this failed journalist, promoted not for his skills but for being the best boy by teacher Enda Kenny.
His arrogance knows no bounds just like Leo that’s the problem with them all.
Why would he be worried there is enuf ffg to shut down a no confidence vote, these votes should be held by the public not his own party
This is a waste of time and energy. And it’s letting the vast structural failures of Irish democracy off the hook by suggesting that vast multi-generational issues like homelessness and disastrous healthcare are the fault of two guys called Eoghan and Simon.
The no confidence motion should be should be against his BOSS
So looking 4ward to getting away from health . the cocky ness of this government and particularly Leo the liar..Harris and Murphy is sickening..he is not looking 4ward half as much 2 an election as we are once people are willing just 4 once vote for change how bad could any other parties treat us than F.F.G.
Has achieved nothing and has made it worse. Should hand back his wages and expenses.
So basically his argument is “they could be even more awful than I am”?
Honestly I don’t believe that He has very much to look forward to, no point in talking about the Opposition’s plans for Health or Housing . He is the Minister, on him will be the Spotlight, he will suffer badly, as will Eoin Murphy. Just goes to show the Arrogance of Him, of course He is a Fool and knows no better.
Harris says the TD that stroked money from government should maybe pay back some of it… Just some…
Same Harris is blowing billions left right and centre on mismanaged projects, but sure we cant do any better than FG can we..
Should why would he be worried. The health service is in a shambles and relies on hard working doctors and nurses to keep the system going despite atricious working conditions.
Meanwhile this mafia FFG government treats sick people with contempt. An appalling government where the citizens are getting pooer,sicker,and homeless everyday. Middle class Dublin will vote for the usual dirt from FFG in Fingal
bring on the next election , politicians of all parties will get it in the neck about the dismal failure of almost every single department , housing , health , criminal justice , transport -none of them working , all in need of complete reform , add to that the shambles of public sector semi states like RTE and fact that we are seemingly content with a constant ‘crisis’ in homeless and health and unable to take meaningful action or demonstrate an ability to offer solutions. I wonder who we will vote into power in 2020 ???
Not worried with Fianna Fáil in his pocket.
Simon Harris ‘not worried’ ?? Of course as he’s knows he has FF to cover his as^!!
Dick
a boy trying to do a mans job
Liar
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