Taoiseach’s recent Derry comments criticised at council meeting

Taoiseach Simon Harris’ comments stating his generation are "more familiar now with London and Berlin and Paris than they might be with Belfast or Derry” have been criticised by local councillors.

The issue was raised at Wednesday’s full meeting of Derry and Strabane District Council in the Guildhall.

Simon Harris  made the comments in an interview shortly after becoming Taoiseach.

Sinn Féin councillor Paul Boggs said the newly installed Taoiseach was “out of touch with young people on this island”.

Cllr Boggs said: “Young people are leaving this island in their droves to seek better opportunities elsewhere. The harsh reality is the negative impact of partition has caused horror for public services where many languish on hospital waiting lists; where people have to live in the box room of their parents’ house; and where opportunities to thrive are few and far between.

“The new Taoiseach; Simon Harris, is out of touch with young people on this island and our desire for real change and a new Ireland.”

Cllr Boggs proposed that council write to the Taoiseach reiterating this council’s “long standing position” on the need to establish a citizen’s assembly to allow for planning and discussion on a new Ireland.”

People Before Profit councillor Shaun Harkin supported Cllr Boggs’ proposal.

Cllr Harkin branded the Taoiseach’s comments as “disgraceful”.

He said: “I thought that the comments made by the new Taoiseach Simon Harris were absolutely disgraceful, but I wasn’t surprised, I mean, this is Fine Gael, a party that has done tremendous damage to working class people for many many decades along with their main partners Fianna Fáil. 

“I would like to hope in the next round of elections we get to see both those parties kicked out. They’ve had 100 years of rule and for the vast majority of people their legacy is a legacy of housing crises, impoverishment, breaking Irish neutrality, and more and more aligning Ireland with the goals of NATO. 

“So I think for a lot of people this is alienating, not just young people but alienating for many many people who have an aspiration for a new and different Ireland.”

He added: “I’m in favour of a citizen’s assembly, I’m in favour of a united Ireland, I’m in favour of a united socialist Ireland, and I think we need to be clear that it will be the people of Ireland, not corporations, not Joe Biden, and not Fine Fáil or Fianna Gael that actually develop a new Ireland that empowers everyone and expands democracy and equality.”

SDLP councillor Brian Tierney, who had attended a meeting earlier in the week on behalf of the council, where representatives of the Taoiseach’s office stated that the Taoiseach was “well aware of the benefits of a shared Ireland.” 

Cllr Tierney refuted this statement saying “it’s a pity that he’s not aware of what sharing the island actually means, and I think the remarks by the Taoiseach are completely out of touch, I don’t believe that they are reflective of the views of the majority of people in southern Ireland. 

“I think people need to see a new citizen’s assembly set up to talk about the reunification of this country and anything we can do to bring that one step forward, I think we should do and the sooner the Taoiseach starts speaking for and with the people on the island, the better in our view.”

Ulster Unionist Party councillor Derek Hussey voted against the proposal, along with other Unionist councillors.

Alderman Hussey said he believes the Taoiseach comments, “hit the nail on the head.” 

The motion passed with 29 voting for and five voting against.

Meanwhile, Donegal Fianna Fáil Senator and candidate in the upcoming European election, Niall Blaney, called for the Taoiseach to apologise for the remarks and urged the Fine Gael leader to pay more attention to Derry and Belfast than to Paris and Berlin. 

“I couldn’t believe the Taoiseach actually said this,” Senator Blaney said. “Has he learned nothing from the clangers of his predecessor? He owes an apology to Derry and Belfast with an admission that he got it badly wrong.”