Over 300 candidates for Fine Gael on local election campaign trail

Fine Gael is the first party to select more than 300 candidates for June’s local elections.

With more selection conventions still to be held, Fine Gael has to date selected 301 candidates of whom 30pc are women.

The party has now completed 145 selection conventions in constituencies around the country, representing 87% of the total number to be completed.

Director of Elections for the Local Elections Deputy Damien English said 20 more selection conventions are scheduled to happen by Feb 8^th next, with just one convention remaining to be scheduled.

Of the 301 Fine Gael candidates now campaigning across the country; 89 (30%) are women while 96 are first-time candidates and 202 are outgoing councillors.

An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said: “I am very pleased that we now have over 300 local election candidates actively campaigning in their communities, with more to join them over the coming weeks.

“Fine Gael believes in equality of opportunity and creating a fair and caring society where everybody is engaged in democracy. We believe in ensuring all of us live up to our responsibilities, as well as enjoying our rights as citizens.

“Our 301 candidates demonstrate these core principals clearly; coming from a range of backgrounds, experience and expertise.

“I am particularly pleased that today, 30% of the candidates running for Fine Gael in the local elections are women. In the 2019 local elections only 24% women were elected to local councils around the country. This is not enough.

“In Fine Gael our Women’s Network seeks to advance gender equality, the election of more women to public office and to engage Fine Gael women to participate actively and fully in our party. Fine Gael’s Aspirant Candidate Mentorship Programme has delivered 23 of this year’s local election candidates, with more to come.

“Fine Gael is attracting new talent all across the country. Almost a third of our candidates (32%) are first time candidates, people who want to serve their communities under the Fine Gael banner.

“Fine Gael is working to put money back in your pockets, build safer streets, stronger communities and ensure young people can own their own home. The 301 candidates we have selected so far are working hard on these issues and I commend them all for it. I look forward to the campaign.”

Fine Gael – Local Election Candidate List