‘I should have taken the time to engage’ – Simon Harris responds to criticism over viral video with disability carer
In a livestream this morning he said: “I should have taken the time to engage”.
It came as both political parties and activists levelled criticism at the Fine Gael leader for turning away from the woman, a carer, who told him: “you have done nothing for carers”.
The conversation, which took place in a supermarket while he was out on the campaign trail in Kanturk in north Cork yesterday was filmed by RTÉ.
In it, the woman who identified herself as a carer said of the Budget: “We’ve fought for our money … but we are ignored.”
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To which the Taoiseach said: “No, no, not at all.” and she responded: “Yes, we were.”
The woman told the Taoiseach that she is passionate about her job but that people are suffering, adding that there is no mention of his “passion” for carers in the Budget.
Mr Harris then shakes her hand and walks off abruptly for a second, before returning.
She told him: “Keep shaking hands and pretend you’re a good man”.
The woman added: “You’re not a good man” to which he questions before abruptly walking off again: “You don’t think I’m a good man?”
On Instagram live this morning, the Taoiseach said: “I should have taken the time to engage, there is no excuse on my part in relation to that. But please, please know this is what makes me tick.”
He said that he will try to improve things for carers and those with disabilities – ending the means test for carers, putting therapists in schools and doubling college places for therapy posts, more special needs classes and chairing a cabinet committee on disability.
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One commenter on his Instagram live asked ‘why have you not done all of this so far, when you’ve been in government?’
“That is a fair question. But I would point out I’ve only been Taoiseach for seven months. I’ve made this a personal mission for me and I’m absolutely determined to do that. So thank you so much for listening.
“I would have liked to have an opportunity to say that in Kanturk last night, it is my fault that I didn’t. I should have taken the time to engage, there is no excuse on my part in relation to that.”
The Taoiseach also said that he would not have gotten into politics at all if it were not for disability services, with his brother, Adam Harris, born with autism.
“Seeing what my parents, particularly my mother went through, fighting for services, fighting for answers, and the loneliness that my family often felt as well.”
He cited this as the reason for being determined to prioritise disability issues as well as the needs of carers throughout the country.
“I didn’t give her the time I should have given her and I feel really bad about that because it’s not who I am, it’s not what makes me tick.
“I am really passionate about disability services. I do hope to have a longer conversation with her because I want you to know and I want her to know that I am absolutely in the business of listening, learning and acting when it comes to disability services, I always will be,” he said.
