Simon Harris refuses to speculate on political future following threats to family

Helen McEntee and Simon Harris with members of the Fine Gael parliamentary party pose for pictures during a think-in at Mullingar Park Hotel, Co Westmeath.

Tánaiste Simon Harris said he had to “dig pretty deep” to show up at the Fine Gael annual think-in in Mullingar, as he refused to speculate on his political future following several recent threats against his family.

Speaking to reporters at the event at Mullingar Park Hotel in Co Westmeath, Mr Harris said he did not believe the Irish political system was taking matters of security and threats “seriously enough”.

The Fine Gael leader described the threats against him and his family as being “sinister and subversive”.

“There’s no other way I would describe threats towards my children, threats of appalling, unspeakable violence towards very close relatives and yesterday, a series of coordinated, orchestrated threats conveyed to Garda stations across the country,” Mr Harris said.

“This isn’t normal, this can’t be normalised and nor can it be accepted.” 

The Tánaiste and his family have been subject to a number of threats over the last week, including a bomb threat at his home on Sunday.

However, Mr Harris declined to speculate on his own political future, saying he would not play a game of saying “yay or nay”.

“Just think how anybody would feel if, in the last week, somebody threatened to kidnap a child and carry out extreme violence against a close family relative and blow up your house.

“That’s all happened in the last seven days. To me this time, to who else the next time.

“I’m not willing to just kind of gloss over that fact. I think that deserves reflection.” 

Mr Harris said his “fundamental duty” was the protection and well-being of his family, but he was continuing to do his job as Tánaiste and foreign affairs minister.

“Of course, I’ll talk to my family and be guided by my family, because I have two jobs. I’m the leader of Fine Gael and Tánaiste of the Government, but I’m also a member of my family and I need to work through that.

“Leadership is about showing up. I had to dig pretty deep to show up today but I’m here and I’m getting on with the job.” 

Mr Harris said the country needed to begin taking security “seriously” before someone was hurt.

In his statement on Saturday, Mr Harris described how threats against his family were having “deeply distressing consequences” and were designed to intimidate him out of office.

Budget tax breaks 

Meanwhile, Mr Harris has also floated the possibility of tax breaks for developers being included in October’s budget, saying nothing would be ruled out.

“The Government has to look at every possible lever that can be pulled, including the cost base that people who build homes, including builders, developers face as well,” Mr Harris said.

He highlighted a number of decisions made by the government in recent months, such as reform to rent pressure zones and apartment standards.

“The number of big decisions made to try and move the dial in terms of viability around housing and particularly apartments.

“If we make another decision in the weeks ahead, then that has to be it.” Mr Harris said there will be a requirement for developers to “get on with it”.

“These things will all be teased through at the budget, but I don’t rule anything out.” On childcare, Mr Harris said the Government would be delivering an “action plan for childcare” when asked if there would be moves towards cutting the cost of creche places.

He said it was important to reach the €200 cap throughout the lifetime of the Government, but there is also a requirement to create more places in creches.

“Parents would tell me and tell you that it’s more than just cost. There’s no point reducing the cost if you can’t get a place and in some parts of the country it’s extraordinarily challenging to get a place.” 

Mr Harris said children's minister Norma Foley would decide on steps to progress in the upcoming budget.