‘I’ve always left it up to the members’ – Taoiseach says Josepha Madigan was not party’s preferred European election candidate

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has insisted his party is “energised” in the lead up to referendums and local elections.

His comments come as TDs and senators were left “shocked” after the widely expected candidate for the party’s Europe ticket in Dublin, junior minister Josepha Madigan, lost the selection convention on Sunday night.

Politicians have also raised concerns that the looming referendums, which will be seen as the public’s vote of confidence in the Government, will be lost.

The issue of former RTÉ executive Rory Coveney receiving an exit payment worth around €200,000 has raised awkward questions for colleagues in the party as he is the brother of Enterprise Minister Simon Coveney.

A number of TDs have also announced they will not be running in the next general election, as well as two MEPs.

Mr Varadkar strongly defended the energy within the party and said the selection convention in DCU’s St Patrick’s campus had between 600 and 700 attendees, with 500 voting.

“Fine Gael is energised. Yes, there are lots of people who aren’t running for the Dáil again but there are huge numbers of people who want to be Fine Gael candidates.”

He insisted that Ms Madigan was not the official desired candidate for the Dublin European ticket.

However, there was widespread expectation within the party that Ms Madigan would get the official nod and she had the backing of Public Expenditure Minister Paschal Donohoe and Minister of State Neale Richmond.

Senator Regina Doherty, who won the convention, did not have any public backing from parliamentary party colleagues.

Senior Fine Gael figures also said previously that the party would prefer candidates who were able to win and keep seats. Ms Doherty lost her seat in the 2020 general election.

“There are certain people who would like to be on tickets in Fine Gael who would only possibly get on a ticket if we fix conventions for them but I have never done that. I have always left it up to the members.”

He said the party has not yet decided if they will run a second candidate in Dublin for the European seat.

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