Election 2024: Taoiseach 'can't commit' to decriminalising cannabis
Taoiseach Simon Harris said he stops 'at the health-led approach to addiction rather than going to the next level'. Picture: Niall Carson/PA Wire
Fine Gael will not sign up to a programme for Government that includes a Fianna Fáil pledge to decriminalise cannabis, the Taoiseach has said.
Simon Harris has indicated that he wants a coalition with Fianna Fáil and Labour after Friday's vote and is asking the public to support these parties to ensure a strong government is formed quickly.
Speaking to the , Mr Harris said he does not believe that a stint in opposition is best for Fine Gael and his predecessor Leo Varadkar was wrong to suggest this after the 2020 election.
In a wide-ranging interview just hours ahead of the vote, Mr Harris admitted that he is "not proud" of his record on providing disability services, but rejected suggestions that he has brought his party further to the right or that he is obsessed with how he is perceived by the media.
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Mr Harris has made it clear that moving to decriminilise drugs, which is a key party of Fianna Fáil's manifesto, is a red line issue which he would not accept.
"I think my position is probably where a lot of people in Ireland's position is.
"I am the health minister who brought in a health-led approach to drug addiction. But that's not decriminalisation.
"This is a complex issue, but I do stop at the health-led approach to addiction rather than going to the next level.
"I certainly wouldn't be able to commit to a programme for government to decriminalisation, because I'm not there in my own mind," he said.
The Fine Gael leader said that he listens to the gardaí and GPs on the issue and such a change would bring about a "normalisation of drugs".
Meanwhile, Mr Harris suggested that his party would give more than the single lump sum of between €1,000 and €1,500 than has been promised at birth as part of an Acorn savings scheme for families which Fine Gael is proposing.
"There's nothing to stop the government being able to top that up.
"Like, if I was Taoiseach in times of a surplus, I'd love to say, 'Well, let's put a little bit more into each of the kids' accounts for the future too'."
Both Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael have been privately briefing that Ivana Bacik's party would be a favoured partner, if the numbers are there to form a three-way coalition after Friday's vote.
The Taoiseach indicated he will be voting for the Labour Party and Fianna Fáil and wants the public to do the same to ensure a stable Government.
"I'm asking people to vote Fine Gael in the election, but obviously that's not news.
"But then I am asking people to transfer to other centrist parties."
He said: "Certainly in terms of my own ballot paper, I'd be very much inclined to, obviously vote for myself, my running mate, but then I'll also be voting for other politicians in parties that we've either worked in government with or might work in government with in the future.
"Fine Gael has worked well with Labour, Fine Gael has worked well with Fianna Fáil.
"We've worked well with the Greens on some issues, but again, I noticed they've taken a different approach, as is their right, in this election, in terms of saying they want to speak to other smaller parties first."
He said it is important that a new government is formed quickly, stating: "I'll be voting to try to play my part with my vote in terms of how you form a stable government."
Mr Harris warned that "if you start getting into four or five-party coalitions that just becomes a hell of a lot more challenging.
"That's just me being honest. It's up to the people of Ireland to decide."
Immediately after the last election in 2020, the then Fine Gael leader Leo Varadkar suggested that he would be leading his party into opposition.
Asked if he agreed with this stance, Mr Harris said: "Truthfully, no, because I always want to try to be in a position to get things done again.
"I didn't get involved in politics to sit on the opposition and point out to the government how they can do a better job."
With controversy surrounding the selection of John McGahon in Louth and criticisms of his own interaction with a care worker in Kanturk, Mr Harris has conceded that the campaign has not gone as he had hoped, but said: "I'm not sure there's any election campaign that goes exactly as anybody plans, elections are dynamic."
Earlier on Wednesday, Mr Harris told reporters that he is "not sure" if he would allow Mr McGahon to canvas with him.
Mr McGahon was acquitted in 2022 of assaulting Breen White outside a Dundalk nightclub in 2018 but was subsequently found civilly liable.
Footage which surfaced in recent weeks shows Mr McGahon on top of Mr White, striking him a number of times as two men intervene to stop the general election candidate.
Asked whether he would canvass with his party candidate in Louth, Mr Harris said: "I'm not sure is the honest answer.
"John McGann is a duly selected Fine Gael candidate. He's on the ticket, as is councillor Paula Butterly, and it's up to the people of Louth to decide if they wish to vote Fine Gael, and which candidate to support.
"I've made it very clear my view in relation to violence, so I'd need to reflect on that — so I'm not sure."
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