The Mayo News

FINE Gael leader, Enda Kenny, has for the first time publicly acknowledged a whispering campaign against him within his own party, admitting that the problem is ‘part and parcel of life’. Kenny admits leadership whispering campaign ‘part and parcel of life’


Michael Duffy

FINE Gael leader, Enda Kenny, has for the first time publicly acknowledged a whispering campaign against him within his own party, admitting that the problem is ‘part and parcel of life’.
“There’s always whispering but we are now a party that believes in ourselves. Enda Kenny’s leadership will continue throughout 2009, I lead a very strong, very united party,” said the defiant Mayo deputy on Newstalk radio on Monday.
Asked whether members of Fine Gael had the knives out for him, Deputy Kenny responded: “Anyone in politics has ambitions and they’re very entitled to that. My job is to put together the team that can run the country.”
Fine Gael is now focusing on next year’s local and European elections and plans to run more than 1,000 candidates. Enda Kenny laid down his goals as leader by saying his party’s ambition is to hold on to their five European seats and hold what they have in the councils.
“If we can extend that to over 300 that will be an outstanding result. We’re going to play this very hard and we do expect to win seats and for the Government vote to collapse.”
On a second referendum on the Lisbon Treaty, also planned for 2009, Mr Kenny said another rejection would be ‘catastrophic’ for Ireland.
“They can’t actually throw you out of Europe but effectively if you vote ‘no’ again you’re saying I don’t want to be part of this.”
He questioned Taoiseach Brian Cowen’s ability to deliver a ‘yes’ vote. “Having lost all credibility he’s going to have a real challenge there. Everything he’s touched as Taoiseach has turned into absolute mayhem.”
However, when it was put to him that bad opposition was the reason that no Ministers have been removed from their posts despite several matters of public outcry in 2008, Enda Kenny hit back saying: “Fianna Fáil don’t do resignations or analyse performance.”
He did admit that his party had failed to connect with voters in the last two general elections on key policies like health: “What FG will do is revolutionise the health system by bringing in  universal healthcare. This was our policy in 2002 and 2007 but we didn’t either explain it properly or sell it right.”

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