Elaine Loughlin: Nothing new? Simon Harris faces a tough sell ahead of election

The problem for Harris is that apart from Varadkar and Coveney, his Cabinet team is the same. Many ideas he tried to promote as priorities are shared with Coalition colleagues, and in some cases the opposition

For Simon Harris, the idea that Fine Gael robs policies was close to the bone. Picture: PA

You know a politician has been irked when they refer to a journalist by name in responding to a question. It’s a natural ‘tell’ I’ve picked up on from attending countless, and sometimes heated, media doorsteps over the years.

For Taoiseach Simon Harris, the suggestion this week that Fine Gael is 
a party that robs the policies of others and repackages them appeared to cut too close to the bone.