Achi news desk-
Mr Harris, 37, who is currently further and higher education minister, will be formally elected Taoiseach in the Dail in April following the Easter recess.
It follows Leo Varadkar’s shock announcement that he would step down as leader of Fine Gael and that he would step down as taoiseach as soon as his successor was chosen.
Mr Harris announced his candidacy on Thursday evening following a series of endorsements within the Fine Gael parliamentary party and after a number of senior colleagues said they did not intend to stand for the leadership.
He has previously said he remains fully committed to the governing program agreed with coalition partners Fianna Fail and the Green Party.
Mr Harris has stopped short of ruling out a general election this year but insisted that such a poll was not his priority.
Outgoing Fine Gael leader and Taoiseach Mr Varadkar surprised many within the political establishment when he announced his resignation on Wednesday.
He said he was resigning for “personal and political reasons” and that “he was no longer the best person for the job”.
