'No excuse' - Simon Harris responds to criticism over exchange with upset carer on campaign trail
In footage which has been widely shared on social media, the woman tells Simon Harris that the disability sector has "been ignored" and accuses the Taoiseach of "not being a good man"
Taoiseach Simon Harris has said he “feels really bad” over an exchange he had with a woman who raised issues in relation to disabilities with him in Co Cork last night.
Footage shared by RTE News shows the Fine Gael leader walking away from a carer who he encountered in a local supermarket while canvassing in Kanturk on Friday evening ahead of the General Election.
The woman, who identified herself as a Section 39 disability worker, approached Mr Harris and told him the government 'had done nothing' for carers and that people 'were suffering' in the disability sector.
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The visibly upset woman said she was very passionate about her job but expressed concerns that there was 'no mention whatsoever' of people in her line of work in the latest budget.
She said: "We’ve fought for our money … but we are ignored". When Mr Harris said, "no you weren't", the woman responded by saying "yes we were, the disability sector is a joke, you've done nothing for us, our people are suffering".
After a brief exchange, Mr Harris eventually shakes the woman's hand and walks away after she said: "Keep shaking people's hands and walk away. You're not a good man". You can watch a full video of the encounter below:
Speaking this morning, Mr. Harris took to social media to say he had 'no excuse' for not properly engaging with the woman and said that he wishes to have a 'longer conversation with her in future.'
The Fine Gael leader also stressed he is very passionate about supporting disability services, having grown up seeing the struggles his parents faced trying to find supports for his brother, who has autism.
He said: "I was in Kanturk last night at the end of a very long day and was talking to a woman who works in a Section 39 disability organisation and she was raising issues with me. And, I want to say I didn't give her the time that 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 really, really, really passionately believe in disability services.
"I do hope to be able to have a longer conversation with her. I want you to know and I want her to know I'm absolutely in the business of listening, learning and of acting when it comes to disability services. I always always will be."
He added that the 'people who are carers in this country are doing incredible, incredible work' that saves the government 'millions and millions.'
Mr Harris said that "the reason I got involved in politics, is disability services. I wouldn’t be a politician, or certainly a politician at such a young age, was my brother not born with autism, did I not see the struggle my parents, particularly my mother, went through in trying to fight for services and answers and the loneliness that my family often felt as well.
“That is why I’m determined to prioritise disability services and the needs of carers as well. I’ve had those conversations with so many people right across Ireland. I was in Kanturk last night, at the end of a very long day, and I was talking to a woman who works in a section 39 disability organisation. She was raising issues with me and I want to say I did not give her the time I should have given her.
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