Mood is confident as Fine Gael meets

FINE GAEL leader Enda Kenny will today tell his party’s parliamentary think-in, in Sligo, that the party is well on course to meet its targeted gain of 30 Dáil seats next year.

The two-day meeting of FG TDs and senators will also discuss crime, energy, the economy and public sector reform in its last extended parliamentary party meeting before the 2007 General Election.

The 47-strong parliamentary party will also discuss strategy and preparation for the expected nine months or so leading up to polling day.

At a similar think-in in Kilkenny two years ago, Mr Kenny identified 30 seats as possible gains, as the party recovered from its dismal performance in the 2002 elections.

Yesterday, a spokesman for the Fine Gael said that the leader was more confident than ever regarding the party’s electoral prospects, and that this confidence was borne out by opinion polls showing the party enjoying up to 27% support.

Yesterday, Fine Gael chairman Tom Hayes said that mood of the two-day meeting would be optimistic and forward-looking.

“We believe we will have a very successful election whenever it is called,” he said.

In returning to its ‘law and order’ roots, Fine Gael will devote most of today’s afternoon session to this area with crime journalist Paul Williams and Paul Anthony McDermott, a barrister who specialises in criminal law.

Mounting concern over Ireland’s future energy needs will be reflected by the second address of today’s session, which will was due to come from ESB chief executive Pádraig McManus and John Mullins, chief executive of renewable energy company Bioverda (a division of toll-bridge owners, National Toll Roads).

Tomorrow morning’s guest speakers, economist Jim Power and IDA chief executive Sean Dorgan, will contribute to a session on the economy and reform of the public sector.