Tánaiste Simon Harris has received criticism for attending an Oasis gig while over 30k people have signed a petition calling for his resignation.
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Liam and Noel Gallagher recently wrapped up the opening UK and Ireland leg of their long-awaited ‘Live ‘25’ tour with a third show in Dublin’s Croke Park on Sunday (August 17).
In attendance at the final show was the country’s Tánaiste (Deputy Prime Minister), Simon Harris. His attendance sparked controversy as an online petition calling for his resignation currently has over 30,000 signatures.
The petition was launched after the death of Harvey Morrison Sherratt – a nine-year-old boy who spent years awaiting scoliosis surgery. He died eight years after Harris, who was serving as Minister for Health in 2017, pledged that no child in Ireland would wait more than four months for scoliosis treatment.
Since his death, Harvey’s parents have highlighted that Harris promised to meet with them “on September 18” last year. The petition reads that it is now “10 months on, and that meeting never happened and now Harvey is gone.”
“On the day we were celebrating Harvey’s short life and saying final goodbyes, he was posting selfies at his brother’s wedding. The same brother that supposedly is the reason Harris sees disability issues as a ‘top priority,” they continued.
“In actual fact, he doesn’t care at all. Couldn’t even take the time to meet us when we were begging for help. We will never have another moment of peace, and we endeavour to ensure that anyone that failed Harvey doesn’t either.”
Harvey waited seven years for surgery, but the severe progression of his spinal curve meant it could no longer be fully corrected. He died on July 29 after a short illness and years of pain during which he struggled to breathe.
“In his short life, Harvey faced more challenges than most, and was the bravest, strongest and most courageous boy,” his parents wrote in the petition.” To know him was to love him, and he definitely left his mark on this world.”
On Sunday night, the Tánaiste posted a photo of himself in Croke Park at the Oasis gig, writing: “Thank you Oasis! An incredible gig. A magical atmosphere.”
His post has since been met with criticism, with one comment reading: “Simon, with all due (or lack of) respect….. know your audience”.
Another added: “Pity Harvey will never have a day like that …. Read the mood of the country,” while a third commented wrong: “This has to be a joke .. after everything that going around on social media. He is there having a great time.”
Last week, Peadar Tóibín, leader of Aontú – the Irish Conservative Republican party, joined calls for Harris to resign, saying that if he doesn’t, the party will be calling for a vote of no-confidence in October.
He said: “In 2017, Simon Harris stated very clearly that no child would wait beyond four months before they would have an operation in terms of scoliosis. And yet Harvey had to wait 33 months for an operation.
“Children are being put through enormous pain and suffering, a curvature of the spine can lead to problems breathing, pneumonia, and a curvature beyond 100 degrees can lead to death and Harvey had a curvature of 130, which is unforgivable.”
Harris has reportedly since agreed to meet Harvey’s parents, though no meeting has been confirmed.
Oasis’s Dublin gigs follow the band kicking off the tour with two nights at Principality Stadium in Cardiff last month, and have since made stops in Manchester, London and Edinburgh.
After the gigs in Croke Park, footage emerged of fans without tickets gathered outside the stadium to listen to the show.
Following their two shows in Dublin, Oasis are now set to head across the Atlantic for their North American tour. Dates in Toronto, Chicago, East Rutherford, Pasadena and Mexico City will take them to the middle of September, when they head back for two final nights at Wembley.
Then, later in the year, they’ll play in South Korea, Japan, Australia, Argentina, Chile and Brazil.
