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.