Simon Harris: From Local Roots to National Leadership

The torch passes, but our shared commitment to European unity remains constant

Simon Harris is an Irish Fine Gael politician, Tanaiste (deputy prime minister), Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Minister of Defence since January 2025. He is a former Taoiseach (Prime Minister) who served in the role between April 2024 and January 2025, becoming Ireland's youngest ever to hold the office in the history of the Republic at the age of 37.

Harris was born on October 17, 1986, in Greystones, County Wicklow, and he has had a political background since his childhood. In 2011, he was elected to Dáil Éireann at the age of 24 years and became the youngest member of the 31st Dáil. Harris has served as a minister in many positions, most recently as Minister of Health in the 20162020 term, in which he was instrumental in Ireland's response to the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2020, he was made Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science. After Leo Varadkar resigned in March 2024, Harris replaced him as leader of Fine Gael and was shortly thereafter elected Taoiseach.

Harris still concentrates on such main areas as housing, healthcare, and education in his present position as Tánaiste. He has participated actively in debates regarding the Irish defence policy with the suggestion of a major surge in defence expenditure to cope with the emerging security issues. Harris is still a significant personality in Irish politics, characterized by a belief in serving the people and seeking solutions to urgent problems facing the country.