Over 1 million pilgrims benefit from golf cart service at Grand Mosque during Ramadan    Visitors welcomed with Eid initiative at Thee Ain Heritage Village in Al-Baha    Tebuk emir reviews rain response in Tayma    Saudi Arabia considers rent cap as part of major real estate reforms    Messi's bodyguard banned from touchline at Inter Miami games    Screen time in bed linked to insomnia, study finds    Le Pen vows to appeal political ban, calls verdict a 'denial of democracy'    Death toll from Myanmar earthquake rises to 2,719 as rescue efforts continue    Russia, Ukraine trade blame over new energy strikes    Putin orders Russia's largest military call-up in over a decade    Albania hosts MWL chief for Eid sermon at largest mosque in the Balkans    Haramain High-Speed Railway transports over 1.2 million passengers during Ramadan    Saudi Transport Authority says passengers can ride for free if taxi meters are off    Ministry of Education forms 425 community partnerships with SR653 million impact    Mexico bans junk food in schools to fight childhood obesity epidemic    Sweet sales surge ahead of Eid as Saudi chocolate imports top 123 million kg in 2024    Saudi creatives shine at Jeddah's Fawanees Nights with art, fashion, and storytelling    T1 CEO confirms Gumayusi's return for LCK Spring after lineup shakeup    100 Thieves claim Marvel Rivals Invitational NA crown as 2025 scene heats up    Bollywood actress vindicated over boyfriend's death after media hounding    Saudi Arabia hold Japan to goalless draw in Saitama to stay in World Cup hunt    Grand Mufti rules against posting prayers and preaching in mosques on social media    King Salman prays for peace and stability for Palestinians in Ramadan message King reaffirms Saudi Arabia's commitment to serving the Two Holy Mosques and pilgrims    Bollywood star Saif Ali Khan 'out of danger' after attack at home in Mumbai    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Simon Harris set to become new Fine Gael leader later
Published in The Saudi Gazette on 24 - 03 - 2024

Simon Harris is expected to become the new leader of Fine Gael after nominations close later.
Harris, who is currently Ireland's minister for further and higher education, was the only candidate to seek the party leadership.
He is set to replace Leo Varadkar, who announced on Wednesday he was stepping down as party leader and taoiseach (Irish prime minister).
Nominations were to close on Monday, but were brought forward by 24 hours.
A memo sent to Fine Gael politicians on Friday said the announcement of the party leader would be made at the conclusion of the party's Midlands North West European selection convention in Athlone on Sunday.
It added that if only one person is nominated, the returning officer will confirm that person as party leader.
Harris has a clear run at the top job after other ministers who were viewed as potential competitors ruled themselves out.
He was the early favorite, with many backing the 37-year-old before nominations even opened.
Ministers Helen McEntee, Paschal Donohoe and Heather Humphreys were among those to throw their support behind Harris.
Speaking on Friday, Harris said he was "overwhelmed and honored" by the support he had received over the last few days.
On Wednesday, Varadkar caused shock when he announced he would be stepping down as Fine Gael leader immediately, and would resign as taoiseach as soon as his successor was selected.
He said he was resigning for "personal and political reasons" and was "not the best person for the job anymore".
He also denied any "conspiracy theories" over the decision, telling reporters in Brussels there was no ulterior motive or new job on the cards.
Varadkar's resignation paved the way for a party leadership contest, but as he heads the current coalition government alongside Fianna Fáil and the Green Party in Dublin, his successor is also expected to take over as taoiseach.
At 37, Harris is set to make history as Ireland's youngest taoiseach — taking over the top role a year younger than his predecessor did in 2017.
He first entered the Dáil (lower house of Irish parliament) over a decade ago at the age of 24 as TD (MP) for Wicklow.
Harris has had a rapid rise through the party ranks, landing his first Cabinet role, as health minister, five years later in 2016.
In this role, he oversaw the Republic of Ireland's vote to overturn its abortion ban and the country's cervical cancer screening scandal.
He also oversaw the initial response to the COVID-19 pandemic, before he was replaced when the new coalition government formed in 2020.
He has since been minister for further and higher education, research, innovation and science, and briefly took on the justice portfolio.
Fine Gael Senator Emer Currie, the party's Northern Ireland spokesperson, described Harris as part of a new generation of nationalist politicians "not shy about their nationalist aspirations".
"I think that he will also be very respectful of reconciliation politics," she told the BBC's Sunday Politics Program.
"He is a very compassionate person and I think the empathy that he has, and understanding of victims of the north, I am very encouraged by.
"He will be somebody who is going to very much follow the reset of relationships post-Brexit and has a very keen understanding and respect for the Good Friday Agreement."
Senator Currie also said the new party leader is "very much interested in all-island issues", in particular, giving Northern Irish students more opportunities to study in the Republic of Ireland. — BBC


Clic here to read the story from its source.