Tánaiste Micheál Martin has said he is not worried about the support Taois­each Simon Harris appears to have garnered based on recent polls.

An Irish Times IPSOS/MRBI poll published on Thursday recorded Taoiseach Simon Harris’ popularity as 55 per cent (up 17 points)

Taoiseach Simon Harris will visit Derry for the first time as leader for a series of engagements with political, civic society and community leaders.

"Willie's the man," the Taoiseach Simon Harris has declared, speaking in praise of Portlaoise Cllr Willie Aird who is the party's only Laois candidate selected to run in the next general election.

Taoiseach Simon Harris has suggested electricity credits are on the way in the next Budget. It comes as he revealed a special accommodation project group which manages housing of migrants will be set up as part of the Government’s latest tackling of the migrant crisis.

Simon Harris is set to make his first visit to Derry as Taoiseach to deliver the John Hume and Thomas P O’Neill Chair in Peace Lecture at Ulster University’s Magee campus. He will then visit the site of the new teaching and student services building being developed at the University of Ulster’s Derry campus through Shared Island funding.

The Irish Times/Ipsos poll indicated Mr Harris is the most popular political leader, after his support increased since the summer by 17 percentage points to 55%