DEPUTY Mary Mitchell O’Connor threw her support behind Leo Varadkar as the Fine Gael leadership race began last week.
“The last Government, Enda Kenny’s Government, did phenomenal work for this country,” the Dun Laoghaire TD stated. “It pulled us back from the brink of calamity. It regained sovereignty for this Republic, ended once again the scourge of forced youth emigration and it acted on social issues that had been ignored, feared and disregarded by previous administrations.
“Leadership that can protect and promote our interests on the international stage, that can ensure we continue to guard the economic gains we have made in the last seven years and that has the vision to continue to transform Ireland into a modern, progressive European state,” she added.
“I said yesterday that the upcoming contest needs to be about which candidate can provide us with a 21st century version of the Just Society.
“I believe that person is Leo Varadkar.
As Simon Coveney and Varadkar squared up to taker the party into the next election, Deputy O’Connor ssaid significant challenges remained for the new leader “at home and abroad, economically and socially”.
“He has proven he can lead, not just manage,” she said about Vardkar.
“He has proven he has the skill to communicate a vision to the public, the capacity to make bold decisions and the political courage to tell people what they need, not necessarily just they want to hear.
“He is man of integrity, of ability, of passion and of steel. He is a man who is guided by strong principles. That work should be rewarded, that opportunity should be equal and that big ideas are required to deal with big problems. He is right person to lead this party, and more importantly, this country.
Speaking on the resignation of Enda Kenny as Fine Gael Leader, Leo Varadkar said he had been an extraordinary Taoiseach and Fine Gael’s most successful leader ever.
“After decades of service to our party and country, we owe him a debt of gratitude,” he said.
“He brought Fine Gael from the edge of extinction to its current position as the largest party in the State. He brought Ireland from the brink of bankruptcy back on to the road to prosperity.
“When elected leader of Fine Gael in 2002, he brought renewal and hope to the party, which was at its lowest ebb. He immediately set about rebuilding. In eight years as Leader of the Opposition, his tireless work saw Fine Gael grow and gain seats in one election after another.
“Enda gave hope to a battered and bruised Ireland in 2011. His dedication and determination gave Fine Gael a landslide in that year’s general election. But more importantly, he brought this country back from the brink of economic collapse, and offered political stability when countries across Europe were staring into the abyss.
“On a personal level, I owe him so much. He appointed me to the Party’s Front Bench following my first election as a TD. I was honoured to accept a Ministerial position from him after the 2011 election. I have learned a lot from Enda, in particular how to lead a team of people with many talents and diverse views.”
As Mr Coveney handed his nomination papers into Fine Gael party headquarters surrounded by a dozen supporters from the parliamentary party, he said he had not promised any ministries to anyone, and that he wanted to be constructive and positive as leader of Fine Gael and Taoiseach.
Speaking on RTÉ’s Prime Time, Mr Coveney said that one of the jobs that the new Taoiseach and Fine Gael leader will have is to keep the Government together. He said that he is well placed to do that, having been involved in putting the Confidence and Supply Agreement in place.
