Ireland’s taoiseach suffered a “Theresa May moment” when a sign emblazoned with his “new energy” slogan fell down at an election campaign event.

Simon Harris, who has called a snap election for Nov 29, adopted “new energy” as his motto since taking over the leadership of the Fine Gael party, and Ireland, in April.

On Monday in Dublin, he launched his centre-Right party’s new housing policy aimed at dealing with the crisis in affordable accommodation from behind a podium carrying the slogan.

The taoiseach, 38, said: “Housing is the biggest priority. What I’m saying to people now is we have a credible way forward. What I’m saying to people now is we’re going to do more.”

Seconds after he declared housing was his biggest priority, the “new energy” sign on the front of his podium came unstuck and fell to the floor.