Gay Byrne Gets Excited & Delighted About Simon Harris

Well, hello, sailor…

e might be one of the oldest swingers in town, but Gay Byrne still has an eye for a promising young buck.

And the latest rising star of the Irish political scene in Gay’s eyes is our own Simon Harris, the junior minister responsible for the Department of Public Expenditure & Reform.

Speaking on his Lyric FM radio show, Byrne described Harris as “a smart young cove”, going on to state that the former Greystones native is “very, very impressive. He has an answer for everything. He’s afraid of nobody”.

With Harris leaving Byrne “gasping in admiration”, the 81-year-old RTE veteran went on to say about the 29-year-old Fine Gael TD, “because he has a tongue fast enough to stay with his extremely agile mind, there is never a hesitation when he speaks. It comes out at least 200 words a minute, at least 200 words a minute”.

The two, surprisingly, have never actually met, but Byrne – who was returning to the airwaves after a heart attack over Christmas – reckons Harris is “probably one of the best speakers on television and radio if you want to speak like an AK47”.

We’ll have to get back to you on that one.

Having recently been appointed by Taoiseach Enda Kenny to be a major part in formulating Fine Gael’s economic policy, Harris also impressed those higher up the political food chain when, as part of his role as minister with responsibility for the Office of Public Works, he toured the country, visiting towns affected by the recent floods.

As far as Gaybo is concerned though, Harris isn’t up and coming. “I think he’s already there,” says Byrne.

“A smart young cove, I repeat, and one to watch”.