Tag Archives: Enda Kenny

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Enda Kenny with Fine Gael TD John Deasy in 2010

Fine Gael TD John Deasy – responding to this – tears his party a new one on the News at One on RTÉ Radio One.

Transcript to follow.

UPDATE:

Some  early choice quotes:

“People aren’t qualified for the positions they’re getting. The requisite qualifications are loyalty and – in some cases – being just about able to read a script.”

“People don’t like reasonable, substantive criticism within Fine Gael, if it affects certain individuals, their profile. Even if the individual in question, or the minister in question is doing their job, correctly and properly, I’m afraid they’re down for a slapping down.”

“[Dissent] is silenced by non-preferment with regard to promotion in many cases, subtle threats with regard to nominations, when it comes to the General Election. In many ways, it’s made clear to people – and there’s a sense of fear within the parliamentary party these days that, if you don’t toe the line, well then you’ll be punished. That has been carried out over a number of years and, I suppose in all political parties, there’s an element of that but it’s got to the point now where people are becoming disgusted by the way Fine Gael is being run and I think last night [parliamentary party meeting] was a venting of that.”

Asked if the Taoiseach Enda Kenny was at the “heart of this” problem, Deasy said:

“Well I think it’s very clear from what I’m saying that he is, yeah.”

Ooooh.

More to follow.

Earlier: The Process is The One That Fine Gael Has Always Followed 

‘It’s The All Boys’ Club In Action Again’

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Taoiseach Enda Kenny on RTÉ’s Nine News last night, after it emerged that Fine Gael’s candidate for the Seanad by-election, John McNulty, was appointed to the board of the Irish Museum of Modern Art a week before his nomination, and that Mr McNulty was not on Fine Gael’s national executive’s three-women candidate shortlist for the vacant Seanad seat.

In Rhode Island, RTÉ’s Washington Correspondent Catriona Perry spoke briefly to Mr Kenny about the matter.

Catriona Perry: “Would it be usual though, if you’re given a list of three people, that you don’t pick any of them and you pick a fourth?”

Enda Kenny: “No it’s the right of the leader of the day to make the, to decide who should be nominated. I have to, I have to verify all the nominations, of all the candidates for general elections and for, and for the Seanad. So, from that point of view, the process is one that Fine Gael have always followed down through the years.”

Meanwhile…

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In addition, in relation to the three women –  Stephanie Regan, Samantha Long and Councillor Kate O’Connell – who were shortlisted by Fine Gael’s national executive,  Mary Regan, in the Irish Examiner, reports:

A mischievous rumour was put out around Leinster House yesterday that Labour did not want Regan — a potential election candidate in Dublin Bay North — or Long in Dublin South East in case they posed an electoral threat. “Labour didn’t want any of them running. And we are depending on their votes so we obliged them,” a Fine Gael source said. This was dismissed as a “creative” rumour and “completely off the wall” by Labour sources.

Hmmm.

Watch back here

John McNulty appointment: A Stroke in Art (Mary Regan, Irish Examiner)

Previously: “It’s The Old Boys’ Club In Action Again”

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Ciara Conway, Labour TD

 

This morning it was reported that Fine Gael’s candidate for the upcoming Seanad by-election on October 10, John McNulty, of Donegal, was appointed to a state board – the Irish Museum of Modern Art – a week before his nomination.

Mr McNulty, who previously ran for election in the local elections for Fine Gael but failed to win a seat, was appointed by Fine Gael’s Heather Humphrey.s

In addition, the Irish Independent reported this morning that Mr McNulty was not on Fine Gael’s national executive’s candidate shortlist for MEP Deirdre Clune’s vacant Seanad seat.

The group put forward Stephanie Regan, Samantha Long and Councillor Kate O’Connell.

Further to this, Labour TD Ciara Conway spoke to Jonathan Clinch for today’s News At One on RTÉ about the matter.

Ciara Conway: “I think for a government that has brought forward the legislation about having 30% female candidate in the next general election that it’s a missed opportunity for a woman to make her mark in national politics. I think that the fact that the seat was vacated by a very able politician in Deirdre Clune, you know, is a lost opportunity. If you look at how the Irish parliament and the Oireachtas rank, internationally, we rank, well up in the eighties, 86, in terms of female participation and, you know, all other things being equal, in terms of ability and capability, my preference would have been for another woman Senator to join the team. But it’s endemic, across the political spectrum, it’s the old boys’ club in action again. And it’s very disheartening for people who are engaged in politics because, you know, there are barriers there and gender is one of them. I do believe that a woman should be there and the fact that, you know, the seat had been vacated by a female senator, it is hugely significant, because it’s a loss, we’re down another woman. And I don’t even know what that will do to our rankings further – will that bring us further down the international ranking in terms of female representation.”

Jonathan Clinch: “Do you believe that the Taoiseach is committed to gender parity in politics or does this betray an absence of such commitment?”

Conway: “I think, you know, the question can be asked of all political leaders in relation to their…”

Clinch: “But we’re looking specifically at Enda Kenny in this regard.”

Conway: “I mean that’s a question…I mean, it doesn’t look well, it doesn’t look well. You know we’re only 18 months/two years away from a general election. You know, where are the female candidates going to come from. They’ve been turned down at this opportunity here.”

Listen back here

FG’s Seanad nominee given job on state board (Today FM)

Kenny rejected three women to appoint male crony to Seanad (Irish Independent)

Update:

Yikes.

More as he gets it.

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This afternoon.

Enda Kenny writing in the book of Condolences for the victims of the MH17 airliner crash which was opened yesterday in the Netherlands Embassy, Ballsbridge, Dublin.

They’re never going to understand that.

Inscription anyone?

(Sasko Lazarov/Photocall Ireland)

https://vine.co/v/MtFlwB0J9lY

Eejity Inner punditry from Enda Kenny at the announcement of 100 new jobs  at ADRoll, and the opening of its Dublin office this morning.

Update:
More in depth analysis

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Via Richard Chambers

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“Today, I begin a three-day trade mission in California which is all about securing jobs and investment for Ireland. From Facebook’s headquarters in Menlo Park on Thursday, I’ll be here for a Facebook Q&A and I want to hear your questions on trade, investment and job creation. If you’d like to participate, post your questions below and visit again on Thursday at 22:30 GMT. I look forward to it!. “Enda Kenny.

Oh yes.

Thanks Mark Hoskins