Simon Harris denies charge that ceding gaeltacht brief to FF is an embarrassment

Taoiseach says FG could have taken role but Thomas Byrne is the right choice — and that he intends to improve his own fluency in Irish

Simon Harris leaving Áras an Uachtaráin on Tuesday after President Michael D Higgins presented the Fine Gael leader with his seal of office after being appointed Taoiseach. Picture: Damien Storan/PA

Taoiseach Simon Harris says that he intends to improve his Irish, but denied that it was embarrassing that Fine Gael had turned over the Gaeltacht portfolio in his junior ministerial reshuffle.

Patrick O'Donovan, the former Fine Gael holder of the office, was this week appointed to Mr Harris's old role in the Department of Further and Higher Education, with the Gaeltacht part of his former Office of Public Works (OPW) brief going to Fianna Fáil's Thomas Byrne, who speaks fluent Irish.