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Updated 6.40pm
THE FINE GAEL leadership contest kicked off today – and so far the momentum is with Leo Varadkar.
More Fine Gael figures have declared for the Dublin TD – but Coveney was first out of the traps this morning, holding a brief press event alongside his supporters to set out his stall as to why he should be Taoiseach.
Enda Kenny announced yesterday evening that he would be stepping down, effective from midnight last night. Today was the first day of the leadership campaign proper.
Two man race
It’s been confirmed the contest will be a two-horse race, after Education Minister Richard Bruton and Tánaiste Frances Fitzgerald said that they would not be putting their names forward.
Some ministers have said who they are backing - with Bruton and Mary Mitchell O’Connor, the Jobs Minister, throwing their support to Varadkar. Heather Humphreys, the Arts Minister, is also backing Varadkar.
Health Minister Simon Harris is standing by Coveney.
Coveney and Varadkar will hold events around the country over the next two weeks, and a new Fine Gael leader will be announced on Friday 2 June.
The Dáil will have to elect a new Taoiseach. That’s not expected to happen until at least 13 June.
The day’s events
Speaking to a scrum of reporters and photographers outside Fine Gael HQ in Dublin, Coveney said he wanted to heal divisions in the country and change the direction of politics.
“I’m the person that can lead this party forward with positivity, strong leadership and optimism.
And most importantly I hope I can be a Taoiseach that can unite this country again behind believing in itself as a country that wants to change, modernise, be tolerant, be open to new ideas and big ideas that can actually re-balance this country away from the dominance of Dublin so that rural people and rural parishes can believe in their futures again.
“I can be a Taoiseach that can unite this country again,” he said, as he talked up his experience in the high-profile ministerial briefs of Agriculture and Housing.
I want to extend that now well beyond the briefs that I’ve been involved in, to provide that kind of positive, strong leadership that can focus on uniting Ireland from the divisions that politics has unfortunately known for over the last ten years or so.
Asked by one reporter if he had the political ‘x-factor’, Coveney replied:
That depends what you describe as the x-factor, for me it is about delivery… I don’t think that a family sleeping in a hotel room tonight is looking for a Taoiseach with the x-factor – they are looking a Taoiseach that will solve their problems. That’s what I am about.
He said he believed it was going to be a very competitive contest.
“I hope it brings out the best in people, I hope it unites the party,” he said.
Varadkar’s campaign also held an event earlier today – and released a statement to confirm that nine of Fine Gael’s 18 senators were backing the Dublin TD.
A raft of TDs who are supporting him held another event later.
However, there has been no sign of the candidate himself so far.
“Leo is the best man for the job,” said Fine Gael Senator Catherine Noone, insisting the party was very lucky to have two excellent candidates.
When asked why she was supporting Varadkar, Noone said he would increase support for the party.
He is a man of substance. He is a highly intelligent man. He is the right person for the leadership of the country at this point in time.
Senator Neale Richmond said one only had to look to Varadkar’s record to see why so many senators were backing him.
“He has always achieved and delivered for our party, and delivered for our country…it is time for really strong, new leader,” he said.
“Leo Varadkar could easily get a majority of Fine Gael senators to support him,” said Senator Martin Conway.
Following the senators, 12 TDs nailed their colours to the mast and declared their support for the Social Protection Minister.
These included some junior ministers – including Minister of State for Gaeltacht Affairs and Natural Resources, Sean Kyne; Minister for Mental Health and Older People, Helen McEntee; Minister of State for the Diaspora and International Development, Joe McHugh; and Minister of State at the Department of Finance, Eoghan Murphy.
Appearing alongside fellow Fine Gael deputies, Dublin-Rathdown TD, Josepha Madigan said she had “full faith” that Varadkar would be a good leader.
- With reporting by Daragh Brophy
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I wish I got memory loss after one or two I’ve woken up next to after a night out.
@Kevin O’Brien: that is a horrible comment
@Mary Garry: They probably say the same about me, so don’t worry about it.
@Kevin O’Brien: I bet they felt the same!!
@Franny Ando: That’s what I just said fanny. You’re a handsome yourself, oh wait…..
@Kevin O’Brien: Top notch comment. Haters gonna hate
@Mary Garry: yera so what
@Mary Garry: You probably heard the saying,—- ” strange but true “.
His Wife must be a wonderful women, she blew his mind! Seriously though, how frightening would that be?
@Mark Dolan: At lest she didn’t eat him like a female spider
@Mark Dolan: blew ??? , Blew you say ??.
She factory reset him after pressing the right buttons
@Padraig Carroll: She tried turning him off and turning him on again.
Im willing to take that chance.
When your mrs rides the mind out of ya you know it was good
At least he won’t remember the 14 hours waiting for a bed in A&E
Not a headline you’d see very often, lol..
These comments have given the best laugh I’ve had in a while.
Forgotten how good it could be ☺️
Moral of the story is not to have daytime sex.
@Ciaran O Moore: Some lad said one time,– don’t do it too early in the day in case you might get a better offer later on .
I hope he at least remembered having it and how good it must have been at the time
Come again?
I had this once after swimming in cold water and found it very nice; the burden of 67 years of memory dropping off my head. Suddenly I experienced the present with full intensity. I think postcoital it must be even nicer.
I hope he at least finished..
I’m just here for the comments.
Sky rockets in flight
Only one thing worst than not getting sex. Getting it and not remembering!!
Now he doesn’t know whether he is coming or going!!!
I often have this type of amnesia.. especially after sh#gging someone I shouldn’t have
Daytime sex at 66- he has small problems
@Great White Hope: I wouldn’t think “small”was his problem:):)
The result of severe head trauma.
Obviously not an unforgettable experience!
You sure it was his wife!? Great excuse!
Viagra side effect.
Not really a surprise migraine can be triggered by sex too
@Craic_a_tower: You’re doing it wrong.
@Craic_a_tower: Move down the bed and you will stop hitting the headboard;)
Why is this article here? Its actually quite sad and its also somebody’s private business… But hey, you’ll get a few laughs off it won’t you!Cheap journalism.
Forest Gump said I feel dizzy after having relations. Must be the same thing
Dangnabbit:-), best laugh I’ve had in a while. Part of the enchantment was the serious, sober & earnest way in which the report is written. Is his poor wife on the horns of a dilemma, I wonder?
@Richard Ahern: oh she was on some type of horn anyway, i’d say…
Maybe he wanted to forget about it!
Mind Blowing Sex , literally.
Doesn’t remember if he came or went
have your say