Who is the team behind Simon Harris?

Mentor, inner circle, and those returning to the fold

Frances Fitzgerald has been a key mentor and close friend of Simon Harris. Picture: Gráinne Ní Aodha/PA

The mentor:

• Frances Fitzgerald

The former justice minister has been a key mentor and close friend of Simon Harris since he left a journalism course in DIT to work as her parliamentary assistant. Harris has always credited Fitzgerald as the person who shaped him as a politician, and he staunchly defended her in 2017 when she was forced to resign over the Maurice McCabe email scandal.

She attended his wedding to Caoimhe Wade that same year. It was no surprise that the outgoing MEP was one of the first to come out in support of Harris this week.

Inner circle:

• Sarah Bardon

Sarah Bardon has worked with Harris since 2018 when she took up a role as press adviser.

In recent years she has pivoted into the policy side and is now expected to become his chief of staff.

Before taking up the role of press adviser she was a well liked and respected journalist in Leinster House, initially working with the Irish Mirror before being headhunted by The Irish Times. Many see her as being a significant influence on Harris.

• Max Murphy

Max Murphy briefly worked in the Fine Gael press office and was a parliamentary assistant for Fine Gael TDs Catherine Byrne and Neale Richmond, before moving over to Harris. It is expected he will retained, taking the political bag handler role, and in doing so would travel with the Taoiseach liaising with parliamentary party members and the grassroots.

Those who may come back into the fold:

Majella Fitzpatrick

• Majella Fitzpatrick

Having previously worked with Harris when he first went into Health, Majella Fitzpatrick could be brought back to fill a policy/programme manager role. She comes with vast experience in communications and public affairs having worked with the likes of Ibec and Eircom, and was brought on by Fine Gael ahead of the 2011 elections to advise on the leader’s tour with Enda Kenny.

• Joanne Lonergan

Tipperary native Joanne Lonergan has significant experience including 10 years in senior government roles, working through four general elections and under three taoisigh.

She served as assistant government secretary under Taoiseach Enda Kenny from 2011 to 2016 and, from then until 2021, acted as special adviser to Harris.