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Taoiseach Simon Harris with his wife Caoimhe and children Cillian and Saoirse in the Dáil chamber. Photo: Maxwells

Tanya Sweeney

It was probably a Dáil first: a taoiseach making his inaug­ural speech in front of both his grandmother and young children. While Simon Harris’s granny Ann Cahill got a huge cheer from the assembled crowd at the new Taoiseach’s big moment this week, his speech was also interrupted by his daughter Saoirse and son Cillian, who clapped and called for “Daddy”.

April 9 was a big day for the Harris family as he made his first address as Taoiseach in Leinster House after travelling to meet President Michael D Higgins to receive the seals of office.