Election 2024 — Harris backs McGahon; Cairns out of debate; New bank holiday?

The Social Democrats leader is due to give birth in a matter of days and is unable to travel to Dublin

Senator John McGahon. File picture: Collins Courts 

Update 4.20pm: Taoiseach Simon Harris has doubled down on his support of embattled election candidate John McGahon, as pressure comes on the Fine Gael senator to make a public statement.

Mr McGahon was acquitted in 2022 of assaulting Breen White outside a Dundalk nightclub in 2018, but the Fine Gael senator was found to be 65% civilly liable by a High Court jury.