Search Results for 'Richard Bruton'

Fine Gael may suffer some “short term damage” from last week’s leadership divisions, but Enda Kenny’s handling of the situation will only enhance him in the eyes of voters.

Enda Kenny managed to see off a challenge to his leadership of the Fine Gael party yesterday evening after a marathon meeting of the Fine Gael parliamentary party in Dublin. The result, which came in just before 5pm, was not revealed to the public, MEP Jim Higgins told the Mayo Advertiser after the vote.

To the backdrop of at least one new convert within the Westmeath party ranks, Richard Bruton’s challenge to Enda Kenny’s leadership of Fine Gael proved unsuccessful yesterday [Thursday] evening.

Enda Kenny has the support of the “vast majority” of Galway Fine Gaelers as party grassroots in the county want to see him continue as leader and become the first west of Ireland Taoiseach.

“Power never takes a back step - only in the face of more power,” said Malcolm X and his words are apt to describe what is happening in Fine Gael at the moment.

Not a week seems to go without some political controversy or other hitting our headlines and this week is no different.

Local TD Denis Naughten was last week appointed by Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny to a key economic role within the party as chairperson of the parliamentary party’s Economic and Business Affairs Committee.

A few months ago I wrote that a week is a long time in politics, the old saying, but for Fianna Fáil and in particular Fianna Fáil Councillors, TDs and MEPs this month has been a long time.

Such is the degree of confidence that the young Carlow Kilkenny Fine Gael Senator John Paul Phelan has in his party leader. When speaking to the Kilkenny Advertiser/ Carlow First this week, Senator Phelan spokesperson on enterprise in the Seanad, said that he was extremely confident that the leader of Fine Gael “will be the next Taoiseach and he’ll be damn good too!”

After the disastrous rout in the 2002 General Election Fine Gael was reduced to 30 seats. They have since steadily rebuilt the party. Over recent months they have out-polled FF – the latest poll gave them a 10 point lead, albeit with a lower rating of 32 per cent. During the last election I predicted they could not win because they had simply too many seats to make up.