Simon Harris: Next general election will be 'like no other'

Fine Gael's director of elections and general secretary recently held individual meetings with senators, stoking speculation that a general election may be called earlier than expected next year

Simon Harris said he appreciates 'the kindness of colleagues' who tipped him as future FG leader, but he is 'focused on the job at hand'. Picture: Damien Storan/PA Wire

The next general election will be “like no other”, a Government minister has said, as politicians gear up to go to the polls "within 12 months".

The Irish Examiner  understands Higher Education Minister Simon Harris, who is Fine Gael's director of elections, and the party's general secretary John Carroll have held individual meetings with a number of senators recently as the party gears up for a general election. 

The meetings have added to the speculation that a general election could be called earlier than anticipated next year.

The Irish Examiner  reported a number of weeks ago that Fine Gael is pinning its hopes on electing senators to the Dáil to make up for the
loss of seven sitting TDs before the next general election.

Fine Gael sources say it will be targeting new seats in a bid to even out any losses, with the current batch of senators being strongly promoted. 

A number of TDs told the Irish Examiner  that while they have not had election-specific meetings, it is "inevitable" that the next election will be in the next year.

The timing of an election would likely be dictated by how the party fares in next year's local and European elections. One source said any departures by Government TDs — for example, Barry Cowen is expected to run for Europe — would create by-elections that would have to be defended by the Government. 

Fianna Fáil's Barry Cowen is expected to run for Europe. Picture: Gareth Chaney/Collins

If that happens, some have pointed to 2019, when the Fine Gael minority government lost four by-elections in the November, just months before a general election. "The by-elections in 2019 killed us," said a source. "I don't think we could do that again."

One Fine Gael TD said it is now "inevitable" that an election will be held before next Christmas.

"I don't think it can or will go to March 2025," they said.

Mr Harris, in Seoul on a trade mission, said the next general election will be “like no other". He was responding to an Irish Examiner  article earlier this week which said Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has privately told ministers and TDs that he has “unfinished business” with the party in terms of electoral gain.

Mr Harris said while he appreciates "the kindness of colleagues” who earlier this week tagged him as the future leader of Fine Gael, he is "focused on the job at hand".

Simon Coveney said regarding a future leadership contest, 'I think the future is Leo Varadkar'.  Picture: Dan Linehan

When asked if he had any comment to make on whether he would like to run against Mr Harris in a leadership contest in the future, Trade Minister Simon Coveney said: “I think the future is Leo Varadkar."

Mr Coveney said he believes Fine Gael can “persuade” people between now and the next election that the “radical alternatives” being offered by some Opposition parties are not a good idea.

Although Mr Coveney would not be drawn on whether he would like to become the next Fine Gael leader, he ruled out ever running for the presidency, saying it was not something he was interested in. He said it is his plan to seek re-election.

"If you look at some of the big challenges that the Government has on housing, for example, I think we can see a significant increase in housing output next year," he said. "And I think by the time the general election comes, the public will see that actually this Government's housing strategy is starting to work."