Taoiseach Enda Kenny speaking with Pat Kenny on Newstalk this morning

Taoiseach Enda Kenny spoke to Pat Kenny on Newstalk this morning ahead of the party’s think-in starting today in Keadeen Hotel, Newbidge, Co Kildare.

The interview was carried out following reports that Marion Coy, chair of the Collins Institute, is to brief Fine Gael TDs and Senators at the think-in – on foot of a report she carried out about the party’s poor election results.

However, it’s reported, Ms Coy’s report will not be published – to the ire of some party members.

A second, separate report about the election is also to be outlined at the think-in by Fine Gael TD Kate O’Connell.

From the interview…

“I didn’t enjoy the election, I had reflected on this in the summer. As I said, I’ve got my mojo back. We’ve got a huge agenda in front of us and I intend to go flat out as head of a partnership Government which is very different.”

“I just didn’t enjoy it [the election]...I always enjoy elections, meeting people out and about, the arguments, the rows indeed and the discussions that take place. A peculiar time, obviously, changes that have occurred all over Europe reflected themselves here in Ireland.”

“The people made their choice, we respect that. We put together a partnership government, obviously two Independent ministers at Government, third with the Independent Alliance and supported by the Fianna Fáil party in opposition…”

In relation to the two reports…

Pat Kenny: “What about the two reports; Kate O’Connell’s report and the academic report on why you lost so badly in the election?”

Enda Kenny: “Well, some very good recommendations there looking at the future…”

Pat Kenny: “Are you going to publish everything?”

Enda Kenny: “Well, obviously, when we bring the report to the Executive Council who represents the entire spectrum of the party, we will publish them, yeah.”

Pat Kenny: “You will publish these reports? Because there has been a demand from backbenchers and…”

Talk over each other

Enda Kenny: “The reports are a series of recommendations that I think are based from the politicians, in the very practical sense, to Marion Coy’s report which is a more academic work but which I think has really strong values set into it that I think will improve the lot of the party in communicating in dealing with a range of outside interests, in dealing with getting Fine Gael back to being a campaigning party on issues that really matter to people.”

Watch the interview in full here

Author of report on FG’s poor election to address think-in (Irish Times)