Comment

Harris can’t stand up for small firms and make work pay at the same time

In order to square the circle, the new taoiseach needs to look beyond the usual solution of spreading money far and wide, and instead consider option such as deferring the living way and topping up pay

Simon Harris: how courageous does he want to be when it comes to backing Irish SMEs? Picture: PA

It’s hard to miss what will be at the top of Simon Harris’s agenda as taoiseach. Leaks in advance of his speech given as he ascended to the leadership of Fine Gael last weekend set out his stall, as did the outriders from Fine Gael who blitzed the media with the messages that the needs of small businesses and making work pay will be important themes for the new taoiseach’s time in power.

“Fine Gael ...