Simon Harris, the TikTok Taoiseach

Didn't realise it was a dig at you, just a general comment that people attending political party conferences operate in an echo chamber where no criticism is profferred or acceptable. Tbh I think you take it all a bit too personally.

I doubt Skimpy has multiple accounts on this site. Has a very distinct writing style. Would be easy spot.

Apologies in advance all.. This will be a long one!

See, this is the sort of thing that personally drives me mad when it comes to politics here.

This apparent "need" for validation and approval (internationally) that both our politicians and many people seem to have - usually at the expense of our own domestic interests or needs.

I have sympathy for the victims of the Gaza conflict (on both sides), but neither side involved are innocent. The Palestinians are just as guilty of atrocities as the Israelis, regardless of the reasons or justifications given. This conflict also goes back a lot further than this current installment, and some reading of history would also be useful to understand the causes and issues involved. It's not quite as clear cut as the soundbite/snapshot reporting style of social media and some of the press would make out.

But it's not our fight. We have no say or influence on the fighting, and we certainly don't have any influence on whatever the eventual outcome and settlement ends up being, and frankly - it's none of our business. We had our own Gaza for decades and likewise atrocities were committed by both sides, and even now there is still that low level resentment of "de Brits" among many here, and the political situation in NI remains unstable even though the violence has at least ended. We're hardly in a position to preach however.

Harris is clearly just latching on to popular opinion on the issue to grandstand on the EU stage (much as Leo, Enda, and many others before him) for essentially "likes", and the idea that this is something to be proud of genuinely baffles me! Who cares what the political reporters of foreign press think of his stance? I would be very confident in saying that their readers probably don't anyway.

What possible difference does it make to the victims on both sides of the conflict? "Ireland has our back" is poor consolation when bullets or shells are flying! The Israelis are not likely to stop their part in the violence either because "Ireland and Spain are coming out against us". Now, if the US changed its position, then maybe there might be a shift in the situation, but again, why Harris and Ireland are getting involved is ridiculous. It's certainly not going to help address any problems here!

He and the Government would be far better dealing with issues like the one you started with above and the rest of the laundry list of serious and worsening domestic issues we face - but given that he and his colleagues have sat back and allowed/encouraged/caused many of these issues over the past decade, I wouldn't hold my breath on much progress in the months he has to do something.

Indeed, an article in the Independent this morning is suggesting that Budget 25 prep is already underway and the theme (unsurprisingly) will be a mega giveaway to try and distract/con/buy off the electorate before the general election with our own money - never forget that the only money the "Government" has is taxes collected from citizens and companies who work here.

https://www.independent.ie/opinion/analysis/fionnan-sheahan-tax-credits-school-books-creche-grants-budget-2025-to-be-mother-of-all-giveaways/a1936660058.html

But back to pride....

I'll be proud when people aren't paying over 2 grand a month to a investment fund/landlord, or when adults aren't living in their childhood bedroom and can buy their own home if they wish, and without having to move a county or two away in the process.

I'll be proud when people can get urgent medical care without maybe 14 hours sitting on a metal bench in A&E and then not simply shunted to a trolley in the hall for the next 2 days (speaking from personal experience here too).

I'll be proud when the revolving door justice system and pathetically lax sentences are done away with and criminality is actually punished - and I don't just mean more penalty points issued to people on motorways which is where most of the focus seems to be a lot of the time. I mean gangland crime, violence and intimidation in city centres and less prosperous housing estates, white collar crime, and so on.

I'll be proud when we have an immigration system that supports those genuinely in need, and welcomes those who come here legally with skills to offer, jobs to start, and who are a positive benefit to our community - but which is also tough on chancers, foreign criminals, and which protects our borders and recognises that there's only so much we can do/so many we can support too.

I'll be proud when those who "get up early in the morning" are actually supported and recognised for their efforts. That working hard actually pays off in opportunities and options to build a better life for a family. When those who don't engage are sanctioned rather than rewarded with discounted housing and supports that the workers can't afford, don't qualify for, and have to compete against with their own taxes used against them.

I'll be proud when we have a Government that puts Ireland first. Not in an isolationist manner but which represents our interests at international level. That negotiates with our needs and mandate in mind. That essentially negotiates as equals rather than sycophants.

I'll be proud when we have political accountability and transparency. That does away with the culture of nepotism and waste and corruption, and doesn't treat the electorate as a cash cow to be exploited or talked down to or ignores, but remembers that politicians serve us, not the other way around.

I'll be proud when we focus on and meaningfully start to resolve all of these issues, rather than pursuing imaginary agendas of hurt feelings, foreign conflicts, or whatever else is currently trending on social media.

But I fear I'll be a long time waiting for any of these prideful feelings under the current Government or crop of weak, self-serving, apathetic politicians. Big on spin and saying the right things alright - very poor on followup and outcomes.

We have a lot of fundamental issues that need to be addressed and resolved in this country - basic things (like the examples above) that have only gotten worse in the past 15 years, despite our supposed prosperity and wealth.

THAT is where the political focus needs to be. Not grandstanding in Europe and internationally on things that have nothing to do with us in a very transparent attempt to deflect from those far more important problems.

Or, if you prefer - here's the TL;DR version...

Get back to work Simon! Stop sticking your/our nose into issues that are nothing to do with us and far more complicated anyway, and focus on doing your job here at home by tackling the problems that are making headlines in OUR press every day!

(to those who stuck with it, thanks for reading this far!)

To be fair to Leo, this was all done with the Spanish PM a few weeks ago. Simon is only repeating and duplicating. It didn't get as many headlines before.

Feb 2024

https://www.breakingnews.ie/israel-hamas/ireland-and-spain-seek-urgent-review-of-eu-israel-trade-deal-amid-concern-over-gaza-1588486.html

The Taoiseach and Spanish prime minister are calling for an urgent review of whether Israel is complying with its human rights obligations under the EU-Israel Association Agreement.

March 2024

https://www.gov.ie/en/press-release/6d133-statement-by-the-prime-ministers-of-ireland-malta-slovenia-and-spain/

We, the Prime Ministers of Ireland, Malta, Slovenia and Spain, met in the margins of the European Council to share views on the situation in Gaza and the Middle East.

We are agreed that the only way to achieve lasting peace and stability in the region is through implementation of a two-state solution, with Israeli and Palestinian States living side-by-side, in peace and security.

We discussed together our readiness to recognise Palestine

https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/politics/arid-41331634.html

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez have written to European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen expressing deep concern at the deteriorating situation in Gaza.

Nothing new with what Simon did. Just more talk. Less duplication of efforts Simon and more focus on Ireland's problems please.

As for taskforce…a little late for that, Dublin has been deteriorating for a decade. Didn't Helen tell us that Dublin city centre is perfectly safe and none of the FFG ministers disagreed.

Yes it is too late, I agree. But do you think that means they should do nothing?

I am glad Simon is doing something at least. We'll see how it turns out....

I have not seen Helen doing much tbh

Agree with above. It's time they started to focus on this island instead of cheap moral victories on the middle east and their perpetual troubles.

Thought the referendum result, or Leo leaving might be a wake up call but it's same old sh1te. Equally annoyed at myself for voting FFG last term.

Cheers, appreciate that a lot. It's funny actually - friends of mine have said over the years that I should have been a journalist or politician. Maybe they were right!

The situation in Gaza is absolutely the major issue in Irish politics today for ALL parties, not just FG.

Theew are major street protests every single day of the week.

https://www.ipsc.ie/

https://www.rte.ie/news/regional/2024/0413/1443359-gaza-protest-dublin/

But do you guys not see how pointless these kind of plaintive appeals to the established political parties are? They are going to do whatever they believe is in their political interests regardless. Some of that may coincide with the kind of things kaiser is calling for bit that's a judgment they will make for themselves. If you're looking for any kind of certainty that those sorts of policies will be pursued you need to start voting for candidates outside the current establishment who are sincerely committed to such policies and are not just maybe taking them up for a while out of political expediency.

Didn't Enda do the same thing when there was a gangland shooting in the carpark of Avondale House flats? Remember Enda going on a walkabout similar to Helens as well. Just the usual crap repackaged and put out as being new.

I agree with Cluedo, it's definitely not the major issue in Irish Politics today, not by a long shot.

…do you really think the mnc's will up sticks over this! think again, our current agreements are mutually beneficial, they aint going anywhere, relax…..