Fine Gael Leadership Election Debates

Communications expert, Gavin Duffy, will be the convener at the four Fine Gael Leadership Election debates.

The nationwide debates, or hustings, begin tomorrow, Thursday May 25, at the Red Cow Hotel, Dublin.

The four successive events will allow Fine Gael members hear the two candidates for the Party leadership – Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government, Cork South Central TD, Simon Coveney; and Minister for Social Protection, Dublin West TD, Leo Varadkar – debate various issues ahead of next week’s voting.

Gavin Duffy said: “I am pleased to have been appointed convener, to act as an independent, objective moderator.”

“I can honestly say the party is fielding two excellent candidates. My role is, through the questions submitted by members, to help inform the electorate for the next Leader of Fine Gael of the vision, policies and priorities of each candidate,” Mr Duffy said.

“These events are traditional style political hustings where each candidate is afforded sufficient and equal time to detail their qualifications, experience and ambitions for the Party and the country.

“Finally, I want to commend Fine Gael for the open and transparent manner in which the election of the 11^th Leader of the Party is being conducted.

“I also welcome the fact that all four events are available for public viewing on Fine Gael’s Facebook page as this leadership contest is of great interest to all the people of Ireland,” Mr Duffy added.

Tomorrow night’s husting in Dublin and Friday’s event in Carlow (Friday, May 26) will be chaired by Fine Gael Parliamentary Party Chairman and Kildare South TD, Martin Heydon.

The hustings in Ballinasloe (Saturday, May 27) and Cork (Sunday, May 28) will be chaired by Gerry O’Connell, Chairman of the Fine Gael Executive Council and National Returning Officer for the Leadership Election 2017.

The hustings are for Fine Gael members and all members are asked to bring their membership cards to ensure they gain admittance. Please allow plenty of time to arrive and take your seats early as the hustings will begin at 8pm sharp. Due to the large crowds expected, media must be seated for each of the hustings by 7.30pm.

Following an introduction from the chairman and the convener, both candidates will deliver a ten-minute opening speech.

The two Ministers will alternate the order in which they speak over the course of the four hustings.

A question and answer session will then be convened by Mr Duffy, followed by an open forum to allow for questions from Fine Gael members.

Queries can also be submitted to the two candidates through the Fine Gael Members’ Hub (finegael.ie) and through question cards at the venues on the night. The hustings will conclude at 10pm.

Each event will be live streamed on the Fine Gael Facebook page and on the Party website, finegael.ie.

Click the link below and select ‘Get Reminder’ to be notified as soon as we go live.

https://www.facebook.com/FineGael/videos/10155227006328211/

Voting for almost 21,000 eligible Party members will take place nationwide at 26 polling stations on Monday 29 May, Tuesday 30 May, Wednesday 31 May and Thursday 1 June.

Party members must be affiliated for at least two years to be eligible to vote.

The Parliamentary Party will vote at Leinster House Dublin on Friday, 2 June from 8am to noon.

All votes will be brought to a National Count Centre in Dublin on Friday, 2 June, where they will be will be verified and counted under the supervision of the National Returning Officer.

Votes will be weighted in accordance with the Fine Gael electoral college rules, with the 73 members of the Parliamentary Party (PP) accounting for 65% of the total vote, almost 21,000 party members accounting for 25% and 235 local representatives (232 councillors and 3 Údarás na Gaeltachta members) accounting for the remaining 10% of the vote.

The result will be announced by National Returning Officer, Gerry O’Connell and will be available to view online via Fine Gael’s Facebook page and on finegael.ie.