Ring says he is qualified for Minister’s job after backing Varadkar

HOW OF SUPPORT Michael Ring and Leo Vardakar both served in the Department of  Transport, Tourism and Sport before the last election. Pic: Oliver McVeigh/Sportsfile

Westport deputy backing Dublin candidate in leadership battle

Anton McNulty

MINISTER of State, Michael Ring has refused to speculate on reports that he is in line for a promotion if Leo Varadkar becomes the new Fine Gael leader, but he stressed that he is ‘more than capable’ should he be chosen to fulfill a new role.
The Westport-based TD firmly nailed his colours to the mast last week by supporting the current Minister for Social Protection Leo Varadkar over Simon Coveney in the Fine Gael leadership race to succeed Enda Kenny.
Minister Varadkar is the odds-on favourite to succeed Enda Kenny as party leader and speculation is mounting that Michael Ring will be promoted to a senior Ministry in the new cabinet.
Minister Ring served as Varadkar’s junior in the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport when he served as Minister of State for Sport and Tourism and attended the Dublin West TD’s leadership launch on Saturday.
Speaking to The Mayo News, Minister Ring stated that he was not going to speculate on any role in the new cabinet but felt his record showed he was qualified for any promotion.
“I am not going to speculate on the matter, but the record from my time as Minister of State in two different departments shows what I can do,” he said.
“I led the way with the Wild Atlantic Way when I was Minister for Tourism and Sport, and look what I delivered during my time in that department. I played a major part in the Gathering and in sport I directly negotiated with Brendan Howlin for money in the Sports Capital Programme. Whatever job I get, I will make an impression,” he claimed.

‘Leadership qualities’
Minister Ring said he was backing Leo Varadkar over Coveney as he had worked with the former for three years and seen his leadership qualities at first hand.
“He is a very bright guy and [he] is in the right place at the right time to lead us. He has the quality needed to do that. I found from working with him in Transport that he knew his role. He did not interfere, and we worked very well together. He will be the best man for the job,” he explained.
The race for the Fine Gael leadership looks like a foregone conclusion after Varadkar secured pledges of support from 46 members of the Fine Gael parliamentary party compared, while Coveney has managed to secure only 19.
Under the Fine Gael rules, members of the parliamentary party represent 65 percent of the total leadership vote, while the wider membership has 25 percent and councillors have 10 percent.
Despite this, Simon Coveney has vowed to continue with the leadership race, a decision Minister Ring feels will be good for the party.
“It is a matter for Simon, but it will be no harm to get out amongst the public and meet the grassroots. We see them [candidates] every day but the members don’t, and it will be good for them to hear what they have to say. It will be a good process for the party,” he said.
Ballina-based senator Michelle Mulherin and long-serving senator Paddy Burke have also given their support to Minister Varadkar while former Mayo TD, Senator John O’Mahony, has backed Simon Coveney.