Political Overview: Simon Harris lays out priorities amid voter concerns with housing and immigration

In his first major media interview, Taoiseach Simon Harris told The Irish Times that the forthcoming budget will feature tax reductions, permanent spending increases and, for a third year in a row, a package of “one-off” payments for households, which will be given this year.

When asked about his achievements since becoming Taoiseach, he referenced, among other things, the Government supports for small business. A noteworthy point was that reforming childcare was one of a number of big ideas that he has but he did not go into specifics.

On Monday morning, The Irish Times published its monthly IPSOs Snapshot poll detailing voters’ perceptions of the Government. The poll found that 76 percent of people have negative view of how the Government has handled both immigration and housing. In every poll this year, those two issues have occupied the top two positions of negativity.

The poll could be an indication of the issues that will be at the forefront of political discourse during the next General Election.

For questions on this topic, please contact SFA Public Affairs Lead, Jonathan McDade - Tel: 01 605 1688 or Email: jonathan.mcdade@sfa.ie.