'Unacceptable': Sinn Féin hits out as 'no-show' Simon Harris unavailable for Leaders’ Questions
Taoiseach Simon Harris leaving Aras an Uachtarain. Picture: Damien Storan/PA
Sinn Féin has criticised the Taoiseach as a "no-show" saying it is “wholly unacceptable” that Simon Harris did not attend the resumption of the Dáil following his appointment.
The Government today tabled a proposal to the Dáil which dropped the normal Leaders' Questions slot and instead began the day with a motion on the implementation of a European regulation around human trafficking.
Government chief whip Hildegarde Naughton said Mr Harris was unable to take Leaders’ Questions as he has to conduct phone calls with Ukrainian president Volodomyr Zelenskyy, UK prime minister Rishi Sunak as well as Northern Ireland First Minister Michelle O’Neill and deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly.
She said he is also preparing to travel to Brussels and Warsaw on Thursday.
Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald described the new Taoiseach as a “no-show”, and noted that he had ended a contribution on Tuesday with the words: “Let’s get to work.”
Ms McDonald said: “We have a lot of work to do, the Government has a lot of questions to answer, and yet the Taoiseach has not shown up – this is wholly unacceptable.”
She said it is an "absolute disgrace.”
Ms McDonald added: “We’ve shown up to do our job. We are here, we’ve shown up for work. Where is the Taoiseach? He ought to be here taking questions and dealing with the issues that matter to the people.”
She said: "They waxed lyrical yesterday about the incoming Taoiseach, Deputy Simon Harris. Apparently, he was going to do in ten-months what they failed to do in 13 years. It was all about moving mountains and getting straight to work and, today, he has not shown up."
Ms Naughton replied: “The Taoiseach is not available to take Leaders’ Questions today because he’s speaking with the UK prime minister.
“He also has calls with the Northern Ireland First Minister, the deputy First Minister, and also the President of Ukraine today.
“Tomorrow, he’s in Brussels as well as Warsaw and he will be back to take Leaders’ Questions next week.”
Labour's Ivana Bacik also expressed her "disappointment" at the move, saying there was "originally a very extensive schedule of business to be conducted over today and tomorrow".
"We have had two weeks of recess and we have had plenty of time to prepare for this. This House is only now sitting at 2pm on a Wednesday when we should normally be sitting all day on a Wednesday, from the morning. It is simply unacceptable that we have business not ordered properly and what looks, if I may say so, somewhat like made-up business over the next two days, when there is so much important work to be done."
Social Democrats TD Catherine Martin said the Business Committee, which decides the Dáil schedule, had become a “facade”.
Ms Martin said: “This is the business of the Dáil, not the business of the Government exclusively.”
Independent TD Mattie McGrath described this week’s running order as a “shambles” and an “absolute insult”.
Noting the absence of the Taoiseach and Tanáiste, Mr McGrath said: “This is total disrespect for the house. We should go over to the wax museum and get a model made.”
Independent TD Thomas Pringle said the Business Committee was “fake”.
He said: “The Business Committee is a joke and a waste of time, I believe, because the Government doesn’t pay any attention to it.”
The Ceann Comhairle Seán Ó Fearghaíl, who chairs the Business Committee, rejected the characterisation that it was a “charade”.
He said: “The truth of the matter is, the Business Committee is far from perfect, but it has worked pretty effectively.”
Mr O Fearghail also said Ms Naughton was the best Government whip he had seen.
“She continuously takes on board points that are raised by people on the opposition and tries to work them into the business programme.
“So it is not the case that the Business Committee is a charade.”
Ms Naughton said she will “continue to endeavour” to work with opposition parties on Dáil business.
“We in Government have to set the agenda – the legislation.
“But we have always – and I have and I will continue to do so – to listen to your suggestions around other statements or whatever you might want to discuss into the future.”
The Dáil was later suspended in a row over petrol prices. Sinn Féin's finance spokesperson Pearse Doherty said that due to last week's increase in excise duties, motorists near the border would be able to get petrol at 20c cheaper per gallon.
Finance Minister Michael McGrath also complained about interruptions from Mr Doherty and Danny Healy Rae, leading to a short suspension of the Dáil.
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