Simon Harris surprised about Regional Independents seeking Opposition speaking rights

Mr Harris said it would be 'entirely inappropriate' for the Government to get involved. File photo

Tánaiste Simon Harris has said he was surprised to learn that the Regional Independents Group were seeking Opposition speaking rights.

Mr Harris said that it is up to every group in the Dáil to engage with the Ceann Comhairle in relation to speaking rights and it would be "entirely inappropriate" for the Government to get involved.

The speaking rights row saw three TDs involved in negotiations for the programme for government write to Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy stating that they could not be considered Government backbenchers as they would be voting on a case-by-case basis.

While Ms Murphy rejected this assertion, it has led to concerns that the Government may not have the solid majority it had expected.

Responding to reports that the letters had irked both himself and Taoiseach Micheál Martin, Mr Harris said he is not in any doubt of the support of the TDs in question — Barry Heneghan, Gillian Toole and Danny Healy-Rae.

"These individuals were in the room negotiating a programme for government. They negotiated intensively in good faith and I heard the comments they made on the plinth in terms of supporting the Government," Mr Harris told RTÉ Radio 1's Today with Claire Byrne.

Reiterating that he believes the Government still has the support of the three TDs, Mr Harris said that even without them it still has a sizable majority.

The Fine Gael leader did not accept the claim that Michael Lowry, who led negotiations for the Regional Independent Group, is "in charge" and defended the decision to enter into an agreement with a grouping led by Mr Lowry.

Mr Lowey has also said he should not be considered as a member of the Government backbenches.

Housing 

Meanwhile, Sinn Féin has accused Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael of misleading the public over claims that 40,000 new homes would be built to "win votes" in the general election.

Mr Harris said that the then-Housing Minister Darragh O'Brien should not have given a figure that indicated 40,000 homes would be delivered by the end of 2024 but that he believes the information was provided in good faith.

However, Mr Harris denied that the Government has misled the people saying that in order to be misled information has to be shared in the knowledge that it is untrue.

"The Department of Housing has made an assertion in a letter to the three coalition leaders, of which I was one, that they felt that Ireland would come close to hitting 40,000 homes," said Mr Harris.

"Obviously, that information was given in good faith but it is a statement of fact that that target wasn't reached, that is absolutely true."

Trump 

Speaking as Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Harris said his department is not panicking over US president Donald Trump's tariff threats but is in "full preparatory mode".

"I don't wish to compare this to Brexit because I don't think we should catastrophise this issue, but I would use that as a reference point as to where team Ireland had shown a willingness to find a way to support Irish business," said Mr Harris.

Mr Harris noted that in recent days, Mr Trump has halted plans to impose tariffs on Mexico, China and Canada. Should tariffs be put on Ireland by the US, Mr Harris pointed to the billions of euros that have been set aside in funds in preparation for a shock to the Irish economy.

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The EU is also working in preparation for potential tariffs and Mr Harris said Ireland is on the same page when it comes to responding to them. He said that the US president, as a business man, wants the EU and its members to buy more US goods and there are opportunities for this.

"I believe there is a way forward in relation to this, if people keep their head, keep their calm, don't respond to every latest comment, but actually wait for the detail of any policy proposal and crucially, the European Union has to stick together," said Mr Harris.

It is expected that the Taoiseach will travel to meet with Mr Trump at the White House on St Patrick's Day while Mr Harris said he has plans to visit another part of the US. 

Mr Harris said he has written to congratulate US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on his appointment and has sought a call or meeting with him.

Storm Éowyn 

Two weeks on from Storm Eowyn and 7,000 homes and businesses are still without power.

Mr Harris said the unprecedented storm has raised fundamental questions about Ireland's preparedness for the severe weather events that are becoming more and more frequent.

"In a country as geographically small as Ireland, it is a cause of huge frustration for me — and I can only imagine the frustration for people on the ground — that the response seems to vary so much in counties," he said.

There needs to be standard operating procedures in place across the country, Mr Harris said, adding that the buck stops with the Government but there must be engagement with county councils.

Mr Harris criticised comments by the CEO of the ESB, Paddy Hayes, about the cost of storm repairs being passed on to the customer. The Tánaiste said the comment was extraordinarily insensitive and the ESB should engage with the Government on the issue.