Harris meets with several independent TDs in bid to secure their support

Simon Harris has spoken to Michael Lowry and will also have conversations with Denis Naughten, Noel Grealish, and Cathal Berry in the coming days, among others. Picture: Gráinne Ní Aodha/PA

Simon Harris has met and spoken with a number of Independent TDs in a bid to secure their support in a vote to appoint him as Taoiseach.

While the Fine Gael leader has secured the backing of some, other Independent TDs have still to decide if they will offer their support for Mr Harris in next week's vote.

Mr Harris has spoken to Michael Lowry and will also have conversations with Denis Naughten, Noel Grealish, and Cathal Berry in the coming days.

Galway TD Sean Canney met with Mr Harris for more than an hour, during what was described as a "frank discussion" on disability services, farming and the direction the new Fine Gael leader wants to take the Government.

It is understood Mr Canney put forward a number of suggestions and will be waiting on Mr Harris to come back to him before deciding on how he will vote.

However, Mr Harris has the support of former Fine Gael TD Joe McHugh. 

The Donegal TD had been contacted directly by Mr Harris who urged him to rejoin the party, however, Mr McHugh has made it clear that he will not be returning to Fine Gael unless significant improvements to help those impacted by Mica are implemented.

The incoming Taoiseach has also made contact with Green Party TD Neasa Hourigan who has indicated that she will be supporting Mr Harris in the vote.

Former Fianna Fáil TD, Marc MacSharry, has already indicated he would support Mr Harris’s nomination for Taoiseach.

In a statement, Mr MacSharry said this was due to Mr Harris’s support for the amalgamation St Angela’s College with the Atlantic Technological University.

He also said the upcoming local and European elections, as well as the Patent Court referendum were “enough for this year”.

The general election will come soon enough in the early spring of next year. In the meantime, the Government and the Oireachtas must urgently focus on addressing the misalignment of policy on our housing emergency, immigration, health and aspects of the circular economy.

Peter Fitzpatrick said that he plans to meet with Mr Harris before the Dáil votes to elect a new Taoiseach next Tuesday, however a date for their meeting has not been set.

The Louth TD, who supported both Micheál Martin and Leo Varadkar in their bids to become Taoiseach, said that all he wants to see is a “stable government” come forward and that Mr Harris deserves a chance.

Independent Ireland leader Michael Collins confirmed that he and his party members — Richard O’Donohoe and Michael Fitzmaurice — would be voting against Mr Harris becoming Taoiseach next week.

Mr Collins, a TD for Cork South-West, criticised other independent TDs who have indicated that they may support Mr Harris, saying that they are an “embarrassment to the word independent” and should join up with the Government parties instead.

Waterford TD Matt Shanahan has said that Mr Harris is yet to contact him to seek his backing, saying that he would like to discuss outstanding issues around the South East Technological University and University Hospital Waterford.

“He has nothing to fear from speaking to me,” Mr Shanahan said.

However, Verona Murphy and Thomas Pringle have both ruled out supporting Mr Harris's nomination for Taoiseach. Ms Murphy said her decision was made based on the views of the people of Wexford.

She said that even before Leo Varadkar announced that he would be stepping aside her constituents had been calling for a general election.