The leadership became vacant after the taoiseach, Leo Varadkar, announced his surprise resignation "for personal and political reasons" last week.
Harris, 37, the higher education minister, was the only candidate when nominations closed at 1pm yesterday, but he will not become taoiseach until 9 April when the Irish parliament, the Dáil, resumes after its Easter break.
He outlined his leadership priorities yesterday at a selection convention in Athlone, County Westmeath, to choose party candidates for the European parliament elections in June.
Harris said he wanted the centreright Fine Gael - which governs with fellow conservatives Fianna Fáil and the Green party - to revert to core values: "Fine Gael stands for supporting businesses, especially small businesses the length and breadth of this country... for making work pay, for making sure we value work and we value people who go to work."
To cheers from the audience he added: "Fine Gael stands for law and order."
He also told delegates "it was the absolute honour of my life" to be elected leader. He concluded to a standing ovation with: "I'm up for it. Are you?"
Harris has given no indication of possible changes in Fine Gael ministerial ranks. But there is speculation that ministers who do not intend to stand at the next election will be dropped. It is widely believed that Simon Coveney will be a casualty in the reshuffle.
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