Taoiseach Simon Harris has said there is “no excuse” for failing to engage with a woman in a Cork supermarket.
In a clip which was widely shared on social media on Friday, a woman who idenfies herself as a carer challenges Mr Harris on his government’s record on carers. The woman says that the disability sector has “been ignored” and accuses the Taoiseach of “not being a nice man”.
The visibly emotional woman says “We’ve fought for our money … but we are ignored”, to which Mr Harris responded: “No, no, not at all.”
The woman then added “You have done nothing for us. Our people are suffering. I’m very passionate about my job.”
Fine Gael leader Simon Harris was approached during a canvass this evening by a woman who says she is a carer, and who said she believes the Government has “done nothing for us” | follow live: https://t.co/eUoCK3Qb5Y pic.twitter.com/MXiN9b60Ke
— RTÉ News (@rtenews) November 22, 2024
Mr Harris tells the woman that he too is very passionate about disability.
The woman responded: “But there’s no mention in the Budget whatsoever. You ignored them. You ignored the carers.”
Mr Harris responds saying “that’s not true”, before shaking the woman’s hand and walking away to which the woman says “Keep shaking hands and pretend you’re a good man”.
As the taoiseach returns for a moment, she says to him: “You’re not a good man” before he leaves.
In an Instagram post this morning, Mr Harris says that he regrets not engaging fully.
“I was in Kanturk last night at the end of a very long day and I was talking to a woman who works in a Section 39 disablity organisation and she was raising issues with me,” he said.
“I want to say I didn’t give her the time that I should’ve given her and I feel really bad about that because it’s not who I am.
He added that he “should have taken the time to engage”, but that disability is “an absolute priority issue” for his government. He said that disability issues “make him tick”.
“We’ve got to look after people with disabilities. We’ve got to empower them. We’ve got to support carers better and those who work in disability services.”
She was raising issues with me and I want to say I did not give her the time I should have given her.
“I feel really bad about that. It’s not who I am. It’s not what makes me tick. I do hope to be able to have a longer conversation with her because I want you to know I am in the business of listening, of learning, of acting when it comes to disability services.”
