Mick Clifford: Is Simon Harris the Bertie Ahern of the 2020s?

He has given the impression of being a ‘something for everybody in the audience’ populist since he kicked off, but how will that fare when difficult decisions are required?

Taoiseach Simon Harris is a fine communicator and has connected with huge swathes of the electorate. He never stops moving.

Once upon a time there was a stock statement beloved of politicians who saw themselves as responsible. “Anger is not a policy,” they would say. Today, a stock statement of similar bent might apply to the general election. “Energy is not a policy, so it’s not.”

Energy is the theme behind Fine Gael’s election campaign. Sure, they have a slogan, “Securing your future,” but it is complimented by the pair, “A New Energy” and “New Energy, New Team”. All the references to energy are directly attributable to the manner in which Simon Harris burst onto the scene like a hungry Duracell bunny last April. It’s nearly as if he had been a secret weapon hidden away prior to that. And then when the situation was suitably desperate, he was cranked into action and sprung onto an unsuspecting public.