'It’s not who I am' - Taoiseach apologises for walking away from carer on the campaign trail

Taoiseach Simon Harris has publicly apologised for walking away from a carer who he encountered in a supermarket while on the campaign trail ahead of the General Election.

Video of the brief encounter, which has been shared by RTÉ News, has been widely viewed and shared on social media since it was posted on Friday night.

In the footage, which was recorded in Kanturk, north Cork the woman can be heard telling the Fine Gael leader that she is a section 39 disability worker adding that “we fought for our money, and we were ignored.”

The woman then adds that she believes the government's treatment of the disability sector is “a joke” and that "our people are suffering".

Fine Gael leader Simon Harris was approached during a canvass this evening by a woman who says she is a carer, and who said she believes the Government has "done nothing for us" | follow live: https://t.co/eUoCK3Qb5Y pic.twitter.com/MXiN9b60Ke

— RTÉ News (@rtenews) November 22, 2024

Responding, Mr Harris said it was "not true" for her to suggest that carers were ignored in the Budget before adding that he is "passionate" about disability issues.

In a video post on Instagram this Saturday morning, the Taoiseach apologised to the woman saying: "I did not give her the time I should have given her”.

He added that he feels "really bad about that because it is not who I am, it's not what makes me tick".

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Mr Harris reiterated that he "really, really, really passionately believe in disability services so I do hope to be able to have a longer conversation with her because I want you and want her to know that I am absolutely in the business of listening, of learning and acting when it comes to disability services."