Simon Harris has become the de facto leader of Fine Gael and is set to become the next Taoiseach as nominations close this afternoon. 

Nominations for leadership of the party closed at 1pm, with the Minister of Further and Higher Education the sole contender for the role. 

He will likely be announced as the new leader of the party in Athlone later today, where Fine Gael is holding a European elections selection convention for the Midlands North West constituency. 

The party will announce the nominees and with Minister Harris as the sole candidate, he will be declared the winner. 

It is expected he will outline his vision for the party going forward. 

Mr Harris will become the 12th and youngest leader of Fine Gael and is set to become Taoiseach on April 9th following the Easter recess. 

He will be nominated as Taoiseach officially by a member of his party, after which a vote will be held. 

Minister Simon Harris and Garda Commissioner Drew Harris at the passing out ceremony in Templemore, 13-01-2023. Image: Leon Farrell/RollingNews

Speaking to reporters yesterday, Mr Harris said that starting politics as a “moody teenager” campaigning for people with disabilities has prepared him to lead Fine Gael. 

“I want to take that can-do approach to getting things done to renewing our party to injecting a level of energy,” he said.  

“To anybody who thinks this party is tired to anyone who thinks his party lacks energy, you ain’t seen nothing yet.” 

Mr Harris secured the backing of most party colleagues after outgoing Taoiseach Leo Varadkar’s abrupt resignation on Wednesday. 

By Thursday evening when Mr Harris officially declared his bid for Fine Gael leader, 65% of the parliamentary party had endorsed him. 

His potential rivals – Simon Coveney, Helen McEntee, Paschal Donohoe and Heather Humphreys – had also all announced they would not be contesting the leadership race. 

Mr Harris entered the Dáil at the age of 24 and was the “baby of the Dáil”, the unofficial title given to the youngest TD in Leinster House.  

13 years later, at the age of 37, Mr Harris will be Ireland’s youngest Taoiseach, being just a few months younger than Mr Varadkar was when he came into power.