Mr Donohoe said it was a “great surprise” to learn of Mr Varadkar’s intentions. He has not yet formally backed Mr Harris for the role.
"I have decided that I will not be putting my name forward to lead Fine Gael," he said.
"I have long said that my focus is on the two jobs that I am privileged to hold; that of Government Minister and as President of the Eurogroup. That remains to be the case. It is with a huge honour that I undertake my work on the domestic and international stage.
“I thank him [Leo] for his great service to Ireland and for the opportunities that he has afforded me. I do believe that a wealth of talent and experience exists in Fine Gael and that exciting times lie ahead, both for the Party and ultimately for the country.”
Social Protection Minister Heather Humphreys also ended speculation about her Fine Gael leadership ambitions by declaring her support for Mr Harris this lunchtime.
The Higher Education Minister has secured sufficient support from the Fine Gael parliamentary party to secure a nomination to contest an election to replace Leo Varadkar.
Justice Minister Helen McEntee on Thursday morning ruled herself out of the race and also backed Mr Harris.
Key updates
Public Expenditure Minister Paschal Donohoe will not run for the Fine Gael leadership, paving the way for Simon Harris to succeed Leo Varadkar. His declaration came after two other remaining contenders, Justice Minister Helen McEntee and Social Protection Minister Heather Humphreys, said they would not make a bid for the top job, and rowed in behind Mr Harris. However, Mr Donohoe did not back a particular candidate. He said: "I have decided that I will not be putting my name forward to lead Fine Gael. “I have long said that my focus is on the two jobs that I am privileged to hold; that of Government Minister and as President of the Eurogroup. That remains to be the case. It is with a huge honour that I undertake my work on the domestic and international stage. “It was a great surprise to learn of Leo’s intentions. I thank him for his great service to Ireland and for the opportunities that he has afforded me. I do believe that a wealth of talent and experience exists in Fine Gael and that exciting times lie ahead, both for the Party and ultimately for the country.” It means Mr Harris will run unopposed for the leadership of Fine Gael and ultimately become Ireland's youngest Taoiseach. His predecessor, Leo Varadkar, was 38 when he took up the post in 2017.
Fine Gael leadership in numbers
Fine Gael has 33 TDs, 16 senators and 5 MEPs in the parliamentary party, or 54 in total
Simon Harris has not yet officially declared his intention to run but is already backed by total 26 TDs, senators and MEPs for leader, including several who had previously been considered as leadership contenders.
Backing Harris:
Cabinet ministers: 3 - Helen McEntee, Heather Humphreys
Junior ministers: 3 - Neale Richmond, Peter Burke, Patrick O'Donovan
TDs: 6 - Frankie Feighan, Emer Higgins, Colm Burke, Colm Brophy, Brendan Griffin, Alan Farrell
Senators: 11 - Micheál Carrigy, Martin Conway, Tim Lombard, Mary Seery Kearney, Regina Doherty, Garret Ahearn, John Cummins, Paddy Burke, Sean Kyne, Barry Ward, Maria Byrne
MEPs: 3 - Frances Fitzgerald, Maria Walsh, Sean Kelly
Paschal Donohoe, public expenditure minister:
Ruled himself out, has not backed a candidate
Helen McEntee, justice minister:
Ruled herself out, backing Harris
Heather Humphreys, social protection minister:
Ruled herself out, backing Harris
Said they are not yet backing a particular candidate
Cabinet members: Leo Varadkar, Simon Coveney, Paschal Donohoe
Junior Ministers: Hildegarde Naughton, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, Martin Heydon, Josepha Madigan
TDs: Richard Bruton, Ciaran Cannon, Michael Creed, Bernard Durkan, Damien English, Charlie Flanagan, Paul Kehoe, Fergus O'Dowd, John-Paul Phelan, Michael Ring, David Stanton
Senators: Jerry Buttimer, Emer Currie, Aisling Dolan, Joe O'Reilly
MEPs: Deirdre Clune, Colm Markey
Exempt
* Alan Dillon TD is chair of the Fine Gael parliamentary party so must remain impartial
* Joe Carey TD is on sick leave
* Senator Jerry Buttimer is cathaoirleach of the Seanad so is independent
“My position is very clear in terms of what needs to happen next, it’s not for Fine Gael to rearrange the deckchairs, it’s not for Fine Gael to decide who gets to take up the helm of taoiseach. Ultimately, it should go to the people for an election. On a personal basis, I wish Leo Varadkar the very best, I wish him very well in terms of his personal life and whatever life may hold for him next.”
Sinn Féin deputy leader, Michelle O'Neill
Northern Ireland’s First Minister has stood by her criticism of the resigning Taoiseach after Ireland’s deputy premier branded her comments “very partisan”.
Tánaiste Micheál Martin said Michelle O’Neill’s remarks following Leo Varadkar’s announcement “left a lot to be desired”.
In a press conference in Belfast on Wednesday, Sinn Fein vice president Ms O’Neill accused Mr Varadkar’s party Fine Gael of 13 years of “failure” as she insisted it was time for a general election.
Mr Martin referred to the remarks as he sparred with Sinn Fein TD Pearse Doherty in the Dail on Thursday.
He said they stood in contrast to Sinn Fein’s “glowing” welcome for the recently announced increase in Irish government funding for Northern Ireland through its Shared Island Fund.
“Very partisan comments from the First Minister in respect of Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, given a month ago, the glowing response to the Government’s Shared Island Initiative.
“We’ve done more in respect of cross-border development and investment in Northern Ireland than any government for many a year.”
Speaking to reporters in Hillsborough on Thursday, Ms O’Neill was asked whether she believed her remarks were appropriate and if she had struck the correct tone for a Stormont First Minister passing comment on the resignation of Ireland’s premier.
While she said she had not heard Mr Martin’s comments in the Dail, she added: “What I can say is I’m quite sure the Tanaiste, as a coalition partner, would rather talk about anything other than his performance and their performance in government.
“My position is very clear in terms of what needs to happen next, it’s not for Fine Gael to rearrange the deckchairs, it’s not for Fine Gael to decide who gets to take up the helm of taoiseach.
“Ultimately, it should go to the people for an election.
“On a personal basis, I wish Leo Varadkar the very best, I wish him very well in terms of his personal life and whatever life may hold for him next.
We were promised a bombshell political moment, and that exactly is what we got as Leo Varadkar announced his resignation as Taoiseach and leader of Fine Gael.
Friends and colleagues of the departing Taoiseach gave him their best wishes, but it didn't take long for plotting and speculation to begin about who would replace Varadkar in the hot seat.
Twenty-four hours on since the departure announcement, one clear favourite has formed as Simon Harris looks set to become Ireland's 16th taoiseach.
Today on The Indo Daily, Fionnán Sheehan is joined by Hugh O’Connell, Deputy Political Editor with the Irish Independent, to discuss the runners and riders for the race to become Ireland's next taoiseach - and whether the top job at Fine Gael is a poisoned chalice for those who win.
Listen here:
“Don’t be talking to me and lecture me on elections. You’re not ready for a general election, deputy. No, you’re not. You need policies, deputy, and you need substance. You don’t have substance”
Micheál Martin bites back at Pearse Doherty in the Dáil
Tanaiste Micheál Martin has accused Sinn Fein of not having the substantial policies needed to contest a general election.
The Fianna Fail leader and Foreign Affairs Minister sparred with Sinn Fein TD Pearse Doherty during Leaders’ Questions over the coalition government’s record in office.
Opposition parties are pushing for a general election to be called after Leo Varadkar's surprise resignation as Fine Gael leader.
Speaking in the Dail, Mr Doherty said: “The Taoiseach has thrown in the towel, he has said he’s not up for the job. None of you are up for the job. What the public need is change.
“What they don’t need is a rearranging of the deckchairs in this Government, a Government that is spectacularly failing.
“Let the people decide, because we will go toe to toe with you in the morning.”
He said Fine Gael has been in government far too long and changing the party’s leader will change nothing.
Mr Martin said the people do not want a general election.
“You want an election every year,” he said. “I’m more focused on the bread-and-butter issues that matter to people.”
Leo Varadkar said he left Leinster House last night at almost 10pm. He went home, had a takeaway and “had a chat” with partner Matthew Barrett, read a briefing document for this morning and got a flight at 8am this morning.
He said he has been coming to Brussels for 14 years “without a break” and there “comes a time when you need to move on and need to make space for new people, new ideas”.
“You don’t need to do that forever,” he said.
“It’s time for change, it’s time for something new. I think it’ll be good for the party and I think it’ll be good for the Government and the country.
“It hasn’t sunk in yet, to be honest.”
Simon Harris has received the support of all nine Fine Gael councillors in his native Wicklow, as he “puts his name forward to be the next leader” of the party.
As it looks done and dusted in the Fine Gael leadership race, Political Editor Philip Ryan looks to the future for Leo Varadkar, writing that the Taoiseach may have a taste for politics beyond the pantomime of the Dáil chamber...
Public Expenditure Minister Paschal Donohoe will not run for the Fine Gael leadership, paving the way for Simon Harris to succeed Leo Varadkar.
His declaration came after two other remaining contenders, Justice Minister Helen McEntee and Social Protection Minister Heather Humphreys, said they would not make a bid for the top job, and rowed in behind Mr Harris.
However, Mr Donohoe did not back a particular candidate.
He said: "I have decided that I will not be putting my name forward to lead Fine Gael.
“I have long said that my focus is on the two jobs that I am privileged to hold; that of Government Minister and as President of the Eurogroup. That remains to be the case. It is with a huge honour that I undertake my work on the domestic and international stage.
“It was a great surprise to learn of Leo’s intentions. I thank him for his great service to Ireland and for the opportunities that he has afforded me. I do believe that a wealth of talent and experience exists in Fine Gael and that exciting times lie ahead, both for the Party and ultimately for the country.”
It means Mr Harris will run unopposed for the leadership of Fine Gael and ultimately become Ireland's youngest Taoiseach. His predecessor, Leo Varadkar, was 38 when he took up the post in 2017.
Social Protection Minister Heather Humphreys has ended speculation about her Fine Gael leadership ambitions by declaring her support for Simon Harris this lunchtime.
It comes after Justice Minister Helen McEntee also threw her support behind the Higher Education Minister.
This means 25 of the 54 Fine Gael parliamentary party members have rowed in behind Mr Harris.
Leo Varadkar’s partner Matthew Barrett is “delighted” that Varadkar is stepping down as Taoiseach, the outgoing Fine Gael leader said.
He said he hasn’t had a “proper chance to talk to my family yet, I’ve loads of missed calls and missed messages, very tight turnaround last night. So looking forward to having that chance over the weekend".
Gabija Gataveckaite in Brussels
Helen McEntee has now declared her support for Simon Harris, having earlier this morning reserved her position on the matter.
Ms McEntee referenced his help to her when she was on maternity leave. Mr Harris covered as Justice Minister during her absence last year.
Sinn Féin has attacked Simon Harris as Ireland's likely new Taoiseach -- before he has even declared his hand.
Pearse Doherty TD said Mr Harris was a failure like all senior ministers and had been "instrumental in successive Government failures in Health and Housing and in mental health services.
"If he's the best of this Government can offer, then it is clear that this is a Government that is out of touch, out of time and is out of ideas," Mr Doherty said.
Mr Doherty said the country since yesterday was in uncharted territory, and set to have three Taoisigh in a single Government term, "and two Taoisigh from a party that came third in the last General Election."
He said Leo Varadkar had thrown in the towel acknowledging that he wasn't up for the job.
"But it is our view that none of you are up for the job," he added.
"This Government has not only failed, but failed miserably.
"So the next Taoiseach should have a mandate directly from the people, and not from the Fine Gael parliamentary party with only a rubber stamp from the Green Party on yourselves.
"It is time for a General Election, because this is a defining moment. People right across the State are crying out for change."
But Tánaiste Micheál Martin said Sinn Féin was not ready for an election, despite its bluster. "You don't have the policies and you don't have the substance," he said.
Ivana Bacik TD said Fine Gael was suffering from an exodus and Fianna Fáil and the Greens were "clinging to a sinking ship."
Mr Martin retorted that the Labour Party "would want to rise a bit more before lecturing others about sinking ships." Members of the Dáil laughed.
Ms Bacik said, however, that Mr Varadkar's resignation was "effectively a vote of no confidence in the Government," and at the highest level.
Mr Martin said he had been committed since the last General Election to a full five-year term of office for this Government.
"That has always been my position. I believe when an administration is elected as a result of an election, it should go full term," he said.
"I recall the 1980s when I was a young student and we had three elections in eighteen months.
"It led to short-term thinking, short-term decisions and short-term legislation, and it didn't work. That's why I actually believe in the five year term.
"This is a coalition of parties, not personalities. And this was the most comprehensive Programme for Government ever negotiated."
Meanwhile, People Before Profit TD Bríd Smith also castigated Mr Harris.
She said he had a "disastrous record as Minister for Health as waiting lists grew and the costs of the National Children’s Hospital escalated out of control.
"He was the subject of multiple votes and planned votes of no confidence in the Dáil during his tenure in the post. There was a motion of no confidence in him in the Dáil in February 2019 that he only narrowly survived. Even Fianna Fáil didn’t vote for him," she said.
She described as farcical the likely ‘coronation’ of Mr Harris as Taoiseach.
“Why is the election of a Taoiseach the sole preserve of Fine Gael and its privileged and conservative members?" she asked.
"Surely the Irish people should have the ultimate say through a general election."
A total 23 of 54 Fine Gael parliamentary party members have by now come out in support of Simon Harris to replace Leo Varadkar as Fine Gael leader and Taoiseach.
Even though Harris has yet to officially declare he will run, 23 of the party's 33 TDs, 16 senators and 5 MEPs have now backed him.
Other likely contenders Paschal Donohoe and Heather Humphreys have also yet to declare, but Higher Eduction Minister Mr Harris is the clear frontrunner.
OPW Minister Patrick O'Donovan has declared his support for Simon Harris
Dublin councillor James Geoghegan has also come out in support of Mr Harris.
Mr Geoghegan said Mr Harris had served as his director of elections in the 2021 by-election in Dublin Bay South, during which "I witnessed first-hand the connection he had with voters of all ages across the constituency".
He added: "Simon Harris entered politics for all of the right reasons with a clear focus to obtain better services for people with additional needs and disabilities.
"These foundations served him well during our most challenging period in the pandemic where tens of thousands of people across Ireland relied on his leadership as Minister for Health to keep the country safe.
"I am delighted to pledge my support to Simon to lead our party.”
Meath TD Damien English has told LMFM he is not backing any particular candidate yet.
MEP Sean Kelly, as well as TDs Brendan Griffin and Alan Farrell and senators Sean Kyne and John Cummins have now come out in support of Simon Harris.
Fionnán Sheahan
A reminder from Senan Molony of the whirlwind of yesterday's political events:
Mr Harris had already passed the threshold of six parliamentary party members before 9am on Thursday morning - before nominations formally opened at 10am - after early public declarations of support from Minister Neale Richmond, TDs Emer Higgins and Frank Feighan, senators Barry Ward, Martin Conway, John McGahon, Tim Lombard and Mary Seery Kearney, and MEPs Maria Walsh and Frances Fitzgerald.
'I have no CVs printed' – Leo Varadkar addresses future plans after shock resignation as Taoiseach
Justice Minister McEntee ruled herself out of the leadership race on Thursday morning.
Speaking on LMFM, she said she will support "whoever puts themselves forward".
She said she made the decision "a year or two ago" that she would not be contesting any leadership race.
Dublin Mid-West TD Emer Higgins has also declared she is backing Mr Harris.
Ms Higgins told the Irish Independent: “In 2010, I shared an office with Simon, and 13 years ago, I knew he had what it takes to be Taoiseach and I told him some he'd be Taoiseach.
“That moment has arrived. I've seen his dedication and hard work up close, I'm confident in his ability to lead our party and our country with energy and instinct.”
Dublin South Central-based Senator Mary Seery Kearney said: "I am supporting and endorsing Simon Harris.”
Mr Harris is expected to secure further endorsements throughout Thursday.
He is expected to formally declare his ambition to succeed Leo Varadkar as Fine Gael leader and Taoiseach later in the day.
Mr Harris will be backed by a series of Fine Gael figures this morning as he aims to lock down the party leadership for which he is now the clear frontrunner.
The Higher Education Minister will seek to replicate the campaign tactic of Leo Varadkar when he became leader.
Neale Richmond was the first out of the blocks and it is understood junior minister Peter Burke will also lend his support.
Fine Gael MEP and former deputy leader Frances Fitzgerald will back her former protege later this morning.
Senators Martin Conway and Tim Lombard will also be backing Mr Harris.
Mr Harris will announce his intention to run for the leadership later this morning.
But it is unclear if there will be a contest as Cabinet ministers Paschal Donohoe, Heather Humphreys and Helen McEntee have yet to state their intentions.
Mr Harris has emerged as the clear frontrunner to become Taoiseach next month after Mr Varadkar rocked the Coalition by resigning in a bid to salvage Fine Gael’s electoral prospects.
Mr Varadkar quit after determining Fine Gael was facing damaging seat losses under his leadership in June’s local and European elections – an outcome that could have precipitated a move against him.
“I couldn’t find anyone to stab me in the back, so I fell on my sword instead,” Mr Varadkar told an emotional Fine Gael parliamentary meeting last night as he thanked TDs and senators for their support.
Mr Harris is now the clear favourite to succeed him, with well-placed sources telling the Irish Independent that as many as 20 of the 54 members of the Fine Gael parliamentary party have already pledged their support to the Higher Education Minister.
He could declare his plan to contest for the leadership as early as today and it is expected that some TDs and Senators backing him will publicly declare their support for the minister over the next 48 hours.
The Irish Independent understands that junior minister Peter Burke, who was considered an outside shot for a leadership bid, is to declare his support for Simon Harris to become Fine Gael leader on Thursday morning.
He is expected to be the first of several public declarations of support for Mr Harris from members of the 54-strong Fine Gael parliamentary party.
Speaking on RTÉ Radio One’s Morning Ireland on Thursday, Fine Gael Dublin-Rathdown TD and Minister for State for Enterprise Neale Richmond backed Mr Harris for the leadership, appealing to him on air to declare his intention to run.
He said among Mr Harris's achievements are his time as health minister during the Covid-19 pandemic and the work he currently does as Minister for Further and Higher Education.
Asked if Mr Harris represented 'more of the same', Mr Richmond said: "Simon is something different."
He said he would welcome a contest between Fine Gael candidates, but added "I do think Simon Harris is the best person for the job".
Earlier, Fine Gael parliamentary party chairman Alan Dillon would not be pressed on who he would back, but he said he expected there would be a contest for the leadership.
The president of Young Fine Gael, Eoghan Gallagher, has come out in support of Mr Harris.
And on Instagram, Dublin councillor Emma Blain backed Mr Harris, saying: “I’ve known him for many, many years, (long before his hair went silver) and he is undoubtedly the most dedicated, most committed and hard working politician I’ve ever known.
“He’s personable and proactive, and hugely supportive of all colleagues at all levels. His record speaks for itself, and for these reasons, and many, many more, I think Simon Harris is the best person to lead Fine Gael and the country into the future.”
Any candidate who secures the support of the majority of the parliamentary party would be well-placed to win a contest given that the votes of TDs, Senators and MEPs account for 65pc of the total vote.
The Fine Gael executive council was meeting late last night to set the ground rules for a contest, with nominations to open today and expected to close on Monday at 1pm.
Enterprise Minister Simon Coveney ruled himself out of the race last night but Public Expenditure Minister Paschal Donohoe was remaining tight-lipped.
His withdrawal from a planned appearance on RTÉ News fuelled speculation he is considering contesting against Mr Harris amid suggestions some TDs were urging him to do so.
Mr Varadkar said he had been considering his future since Christmas but firmly decided to step down only at the weekend.
He shocked the two other Coalition leaders and some ministerial colleagues when he informed them of his plans on Tuesday night.
“After seven years in office, I am no longer the best person for that job,” a visibly emotional Mr Varadkar said at a dramatic midday press conference in Government Buildings.
Cabinet colleagues believe Mr Varadkar’s decision was crystallised by the two referendum defeats nearly a fortnight ago, the slew of Fine Gael TDs retiring at the next election, and the prospect of more damaging electoral losses in June – all of which may have led to a heave against him in advance of the next general election.
There was also a view among figures in the Government that Mr Varadkar had not embraced his second spell as Taoiseach with as much enthusiasm as his first term.
“He seemed slightly distracted and just not energised by it,” a cabinet minister said.
A source close to Mr Varadkar said last night: “The principal motivation for the timing was to have a new leader in place for the ard fheis to set out their stall. Once he’d made up his mind, he was determined to go ahead with it.”
Mr Varadkar said his reasons were “both personal and political” and later told reporters he had been weighing up stepping down since the Christmas and new-year period. He insisted he had definitively decided to resign only last weekend as he concluded his St Patrick’s Day trip to the US.
He ruled himself out of becoming the next European Commissioner and said he had not decided whether to run again in Dublin West.
It is widely expected he will step down from the Dáil at the next general election.
Fine Gael will install a new leader in advance of its ard fheis on April 6 and that person will be expected to become taoiseach early the following week.
A senior figure in Fine Gael said: “Paschal and Coveney had a conclave and decided only one or other of them will run. They know Harris is the man to beat.”
Mr Coveney’s allies denied this, but Mr Donohoe’s supporters remained largely silent.
A source close to Mr Donohoe said he was focused on his existing role as Public Expenditure Minister and Eurogroup chair.
There was no comment from other possible contenders including Justice Minister Helen McEntee and Social Protection Minister Heather Humphreys.
Junior Finance Minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill has also been mentioned as an outside possibility, although one source suggested she could become deputy leader.
Tánaiste Micheál Martin and Green Party leader Eamon Ryan were blindsided on Tuesday night when Mr Varadkar told them of his decision, with Mr Martin admitting he was “very surprised”.
Both party leaders said they wanted the Coalition to run the full term to March next year despite the change of leader in Fine Gael, which is likely to fuel speculation of an earlier general election.
The news sent shockwaves throughout the Government yesterday morning, with Fianna Fáil and Green Party ministerial advisers in the dark as Fine Gael scrambled to plan the announcement.
Sinn Féin called for an immediate general election – a view echoed by the Social Democrats, Labour and other opposition politicians.
