Simon Harris says Election 2024 is a three-way race amid massive Fine Gael slump

Taoiseach Simon Harris has said it is “all still to play for” in this Friday’s election following a sharp six-point drop in support for Fine Gael.

A poll, published by the Irish Times/Ipsos B&A on Monday morning, showed Fine Gael trailing both Fianna Fáil and Sinn Féin.

Fianna Fáil leads the way on 21 per cent – up two points on the last poll two weeks ago. Sinn Féin stands on 20 per cent (up one), while Fine Gael is on 19 per cent. This is down six points since the November 14 poll.

READ MORE: Dramatic slump in support for Fine Gael in polls with days to go before General Election

READ MORE: Irish General Election 2024: Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín hailed over hospital campaign

Speaking on RTÉ’s Today with Claire Byrne, Mr Harris said there have been two polls in recent days. The first poll had his party slightly ahead of Fianna Fáil and Sinn Féin, while the second had Fine Gael trailing behind.

He said: “What all polls show is a very tight election. I've never, ever, ever bought into the theory that the outcome of the election was a foregone conclusion. In fact, quite the opposite. I found it unedifying when people have been saying, ‘I want this department, or I want that department, or I want to go first in this role’.

“The Irish people are sovereign. What happens when an election is called is people reset and people really value their vote. I fully accept that this is a three-race tie, if you like. There's three parties all on roughly 20 per cent across a number of published polls. It is all to play for. Not one vote has been cast.”

Meanwhile, Mr Harris was again forced to defend Fine Gael’s decision to run John McGahon as a general election candidate in Louth. The Senator was found not guilty of assault on farmer Breen White during a criminal trial.

Mr White, from Castleblaney, Co Monaghan, sued Mr McGahon for assault and battery outside the Rum House pub in Dundalk, Co Louth, on June 16, 2018. In July, a High Court civil jury awarded Mr White €39,000 following the alleged assault. It apportioned blame at 65 per cent against Mr McGahon and 35 per cent against Mr White.

When asked by Claire Byrne if people should vote for Mr McGahon, Mr Harris stopped short of stating they should.

He said: “There’s two candidates selected in Louth for Fine Gael. I would ask people to support Fine Gael in Louth on Friday. I understand absolutely why people are horrified by the video that they saw [of the assault].

“I'm very angry about this situation. I absolutely abhor violence. But I do believe he went through a process. He was found not guilty [in a criminal case]. If he was found guilty, it would be a very different situation.

“I want people in Louth to decide based on weighing up his record of service in the community, his time as a senator. I think people will look at it in the round, and then they will decide.”

Speaking in Dublin, Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald said that it was clear there is now “momentum in the campaign”.

“There is now momentum with us,” she said.

“It’s now very, very clear that there can be a government beyond Fine Gael and Fianna Fáíl. “That, for the first time, we can have a Government led by Sinn Féin. It is a transformational opportunity. We are ready, we are good to go."

Social Democrats candidate for Wicklow Jennifer Whitmore, meanwhile, slated Mr Harris stating that Friday’s election is a “three-way race”.

She said: “I think it's really dismissive of the voters to start saying now who we will go in with and who we wouldn't. Simon Harris, on the radio, was saying that it's a three-horse race. That is so dismissive of every single voter out there and every candidate that's putting their name forward in this election.

“It's not an easy thing to do, to put your name forward and for the Taoiseach of the country to say that you know anyone outside those three should be disregarded, I think is completely unacceptable.

“I think it is incredibly arrogant and dismissive.”

Join the Irish Mirror’s breaking news service on WhatsApp. Click this linkto receive breaking news and the latest headlines direct to your phone. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.