Fine Gael members have their say in leadership election as hustings conclude

Fine Gael rounded off a series of hustings for its leadership election in Cork last night (Sunday), with Party members hearing the two candidates debate their vision for the future of the country and the Party.

The debates between Minister Simon Coveney and Minister Leo Varadkar took place in Dublin, Carlow, Ballinasloe and Cork over the last four nights.

The hustings were convened by communications expert Gavin Duffy.

It was standing room only as 3,500 Fine Gael members attended over the four nights to listen to the candidates and to have their say. Candidates took questions from the floor, allowing debate on the issues that matter to the membership.

The hustings were also live streamed on the Fine Gael Facebook page and on the Party website, finegael.ie with a combined reach of 1.5 million and 150,000 views.

Voting for almost 21,000 eligible Party members is taking place nationwide at 26 polling stations on Monday 29 May, Tuesday 30 May, Wednesday 31 May and Thursday 1 June. There is also a polling station in Brussels for Party staff based there, where voting began this morning.

Party members must be affiliated for at least two years to be eligible to vote. All those eligible have been notified in writing. In addition, details of the polling stations are available to members on the Fine Gael Members’ Hub.

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, Gerry O’Connell.

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 the National Returning Officer, and will be available to view online via Fine Gael’s Facebook page and on finegael.ie.