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YESTERDAY WAS THE hottest day of the year, but despite the sun blazing outside, close to 800 Fine Gaelers crammed into a hotel conference room in Dublin to see Simon Coveney and Leo Varadkar go head-to-head.
It was the first of four hustings (debates) between the two leadership candidates (which are being chaired by Dragons Den’s Gavin Duffy).
There were stacks of multi-coloured ‘Leo’ t-shirts and water bottles, as well as hoards of ‘Coveney’ stickers on stands dotted around the Red Cow Moran Hotel.
A group of German women over on holidays looked around, confused at what all the fanfare was about (if they knew, they might not believe it).
If you are not a Fine Gael supporter, you would be forgiven for calling for all the extraneous PR launches, talks and ‘he said, she said’ headlines to come to an end.
Choosing the next Taoiseach
However, while Fine Gael members are the people who get to choose their next leader, they are also the people who get to choose Ireland’s next Taoiseach.
With that in mind, we decided to ask a few attendees whether they were voting in the best interest of their party or their country? Also why they decided to give up their sunny evening to see a Cork man and a Dublin man take digs at each other.
“Sheer curiosity,” said Barry Walsh, who attended the event. “It is the first time there has been a debate like this. I think the contest has gone well. I know people are complaining that TDs and senators declared too early, but you know, that’s politics.”
Originally from Cork, Walsh says the unspeakable – that he is leaning towards Leo Varadkar.
“There is just more energy about him, he is more popular with younger voters, with women voters. I think I know who he is, I think the public know who he is, where as Simon Coveney is making up ground from day one.”
Whether he speaks to more people in the party, journalist and broadcaster Vincent Browne thinks Varadkar spells bad news for the country.
In an article for the The Irish Times yesterday, he wrote that the Social Protection Minister will move the party to the right with “Tea Party politics”.
This was a sentiment his opponent picked up on during the debate. When they were asked to choose who goes first by picking a hand, Simon said with a wry smile: “right, for Leo.”
This was followed by a quick fire round between the pair where they debated whether their party should be one of unity, that appeals for all or one that looks after its own.
Varadkar says he was not going to go down the road of “being all things to all people” stating that if you try to represent everybody, you’ll end up representing nobody.
He accused Coveney of trying to characterise the race as left-wing versus right-wing.
“I didn’t bring up left or right – but if you’re a housing minister and you pass homeless people, you’ve a duty, neither left nor right,” Coveney insisted, a comment which sparked loud applause.
Then the gloves and jackets were thrown to the floor – metaphorically, at least – when the pair discussed the issue of equality of opportunity.
“Equality of opportunity appears all over my papers. They don’t appear on Simon’s at all,” said Varadkar.
“Don’t lecture me on equality of opportunity,” replied Coveney.
Coveney said he is passionate about his own vision for Fine Gael and in a pointed dig, said he was “deeply concerned” about the one being put forward by Varadkar.
So do members agree with Vincent Browne’s line that Leo is going to take the party in the wrong direction?
“I don’t believe that at all. Vincent Browne sits there with left-wing journalists and think-tanks. I think he believes anyone in Fine Gael is right-wing. Leo has shown himself to be a pragmatic politician, he is neither right or left – I wouldn’t take that seriously,” said Walsh.
However, one female councillor (who is yet to decide where her support lies) told TheJournal.ie that it was time for the party to “be mature enough to put society before the party” agreeing that the few hundred people in the room tonight were privileged to be able to select the next Taoiseach of Ireland.
“I think we have to weigh up who has the most experience. It is of course about the party, but more importantly, it is about the country and what the candidates can deliver upon. It is all great making plans and promises, but we need to see who can implement it. This person isn’t just going to be our party leader, they are going to be on the world stage – for all to see.”
Another party member said what he witnessed tonight was very different to what was at play within the parliamentary party. “Let’s say it straight – a lot of them are trying to save their own skin and make sure they get the big jobs, or get to stay in the big jobs.”
“They’re not thinking about who is right for the party or the country – just who will allow them to keep their seat.”
There was a mixed crowd of young and old in the conference room. One young member told TheJournal.ie:
“I am new to the party – just a few years. My friends were involved so I thought I better pick a party that suits me.
“I am leaning towards Leo. My reasons would be he seems to understand young people, elderly people – a good cross-section of society.”
Another member describes Varadkar as “the right person at the right time”.
“Coveney has done great things in government [but] I think he has a bit more to learn about what people on the ground want,” said James Roddy.
While Roddy believes a younger candidate would be better for the future, a Coveney supporter disagrees.
Wearing a bright yellow ‘Simon Coveney’ t-shirt, Ciaran Sheahan said he thinks experience is more important.
“Simon has a lot of experience to offer – he’s been in Europe, he’s been in the Dáil,” he said, adding that not only would that be beneficial for the party but the country as a whole.
Are members voting for the party or the country?
Walsh and Roddy both agreed it had to be balanced.
“I think you have to weigh both equally. I have no doubt that Leo would be better for the party, much better than Simon, but when it comes to being Taoiseach, I think it is a much closer race,” said Walsh.
Whoever wins, both have said they will work together to unite the party and the country. Where each will end up is another story, although Coveney gave a hint as to where Varadkar might find himself should he lose…
Mini-poll: If you were watching the debate, who do you think won?
Wouldn’t you look like some spanner walking into your local with one of those coveney t shirts on ya.
@Derek Foran:
Ha ha but then it might depend on where your local is!
@Derek Foran: Great to see that Fine Gael are coming to their sense and Simon is fighting back against Leo the hate Monger Vradker….. Am sure Leo and Donald would be sorely disappointed if Leo doesn’t get it after all they have put so much work into making Leo the hate monger Vradker into being the leader of the country.
I shudder to think of the policies and the route Leo would lead the country –
#anyonebutleo
Leo Varadkar, Simon Coveney, Enda Kenny, Joan Burton and all the other imbeciles should be ashamed of themselves with the travesty this week with Sean Fitzpatrick. I haven’t paid my TV license – please please pursue me Director of Corporate Enforcement. Ireland is finished as an entity/country.
No “who cares” button on the poll?
Why are most men wearing blue coloured shirts etc in a pic of the conference? Coincidence?
Hmmmm a tooothache or a migraine? Decisions, decisions!
@Tír Eoghain Gael: Well that one toothache or migraine you’ll not have anyway. You don’t even live on the country so it’s no concern of yours who the leader of Fine Gael or even Taoiseach.
@Tír Eoghain Gael: you can oull out a tooth, but a brain? Tricky,…
@Mark Andrew Salmon: I don’t know, a few of the FG shills around here have definitely been lobotomized.
I myself really hope that the Giant Douche wins. Turd Sandwich would be a disaster.
Hmm, I hope I’m remembering right which one is which.
The card carrying elite in that room deciding if those waiting on hospital waiting lists & the infirm waiting for home help package can get the help they need to get up early in the morning.
@abcyz: elite? Membership is €20 – join up if you feel you want to change the direction of the party.
@shits ville: you shouldn’t have to join a group to decide on an individual who has over arching power over selecting the cabinet. If they are not fully accountable to the dail (as Kenny and Noonan proved last week over aib), then the taoiseach should be directly elected.
@shits ville: elite is the wrong word, a room full of special people. Who will elect smebody , who will work for and protect the elite.
Their moral ground is so high I’m just really surprised how either of them have any oxygen to breathe up there.
@Ronan Emmett: you dont have to breathe when you’re talking out of your arshe!
What a load of Pony!!! Embarrassing Stuff!! “Keeping up with the clowns” No offence to either but seriously, families sleeping in Fairview Park or a Garda Station for the night….what are these “leaders” up to? Neither are fit for the seat…Shame on the lot of them
@Rondon: Our most recent “leaders” -Enda, Cowen, Bertie weren’t fit for the seat either and therein lies the problem
I’d like to be positive about it,but it’s a country full of corruption & deceit & whoever gets elected can’t & wont be able change much for average working person of Ireland!
Priveleged is not a term I could apply to Irish politics since about 1921
@Cathy Scannell: Enda Kenny’s legacy will be giving a free pass to the man who cost every citizen of this “state” €6000 … no doubt he is sleeping well tonight (with Noonan )
@John Ryan: so embarrassed by these people, none of whom I voted for. Sold us out first to the Troika and then to the banks . I would be willing to bet they were never hungry nor did they ever have to wonder where their next meal/rent/mortgage would come from. Get freaking real guys people are suffering and thousands before you died so that this would not be the case
@Cathy Scannell: and we haven’t even mentioned that dog Frances “The Fly 2″ Fitzgerald
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz totally underwhelmed
THERE WERE OVER 2,700 homeless children staying in emergency accommodation on a single week last month, a new record high.
‘he is more popular with women voters’
Maybe they need to watch Miriam again.
@Saul Cusack: Saturday night with Miriam is due soon. I would prefer to spend my Saturdays chewing on Donald Trump’s faeces
Privileged just about sums up this crowd.
No matter which of them wins they have no mandate until after a GE.
Every FG party member and supporter in that room is an embarrassment to the nation. Brendan howlin is showing how complicit martin, kenny and their parties are in the widespread corruption that’s in the system.
@Adrian: How many election promises did Labour break in the last Dail?
“800″ more than a total Dail attendance (in any given year) especially when there are serious issues to discuss the clowns are conveniently busy elsewhere we all notice how empty the Dail sittings are unless it affects their pockets .
Absolute dirt the pair of them.It is a disgrace that broadband is not rolled out across the country immediately so that the ignorant people stop electing these clowns from Fine Gael and Fianna Fail.
You probably wouldn’t see this crowd cleaning up their street for Tidy Towns or volunteering in their communities. Where we live fg or ff TD’s haven’t been seen since the last elections.
Irish times poll says the people very much prefer Coveney to Varadkar.
Whilst this is up to FG they would be wise not to ignore the views of the public.
Yes you are all very privileged. While us mere mortals can only look on in despair.
I met Simon recently at the Lusitania monument unveiling and he was more than helpful and polite in some historical research I am doing.
A real Gentleman
Nothing to see here folks same old shite
have your say