Enda Kenny: No talks have taken place

FINE GAEL leader Enda Kenny dismissed as speculation media reports that former PD leader Michael McDowell is poised to rejoin Fine Gael in a bid to win back a Dáil seat.

Mr Kenny, who was at the launch of the party’s Limerick City and Limerick County Council election campaigns said: “No talks have taken place. I have seen speculation about a whole list of people recently. That’s all that is, speculation.”

In relation to the controversy surrounding George Lee’s timing in his decision to announce he was joining Fine Gael to fight the Dublin South by-election, Mr Kenny said he did not find out that Mr Lee had made a decision to seek a Fine Gael nomination until after the former economic journalist confirmed to RTÉ he intended to leave the station.

He said: “I found out when he announced it himself after informing RTÉ. I had no discussions at all with George Lee. This is a man who made up his own mind. He made his decision and he has been very frank and open about that. I hadn’t occasion to speak to George for a number of years and, obviously, he has answered this very clearly himself in terms of his considering standing for politics.”

Mr Kenny predicted that Fine Gael will hold all 293 local authority seats going into the June 5 vote and if they can break the 300 mark it will be a magnificent performance.

The Fine Gael leader said his party was on a general election footing because the June 5 poll could lead to a general election. “If that is the case and people want Fianna Fáil out of government, the only way they can do that, the only party that can actually guarantee them a change is the Fine Gael party.

“The only party that can guarantee that Fianna Fáil will be out of government is by voting for the Fine Gael candidates. And if this precipitates a general election after June 5, so be it.”

This Government have no mandate for what they are doing and they are floundering around in desperation.”