Kenny vows that Fine Gael will be a more open party in the new year

Enda Kenny has said that he wants his ministers to meet constituents more often and for Fine Gael to be a more open party with the public in the new year.

The Taoiseach’s comments come after criticism from backbenchers during Fine Gael’s shambolic Seanad election ploy.

Waterford TD John Deasy went as far as to suggest that TDs were “disgusted” at how Mr Kenny was running the party.

At the time, backbenchers were furious at the appointment of John McNulty to the board of the Irish Museum of Modern Art just days ahead of being nominated for a seat in the Seanad.

Mr Kenny, during his end-of-year interview with reporters, said he was ready to take criticism and that the party must do more to understand the public’s concerns about issues.

“Well, from what I read in many newspaper reports, you know, I hear lots of criticism. This is not a party of yes-people, and I don’t live in a world where people only tell you nice things. You have to deal with hard issues and very straight talk, and that is what politics is about, and we encourage that in Fine Gael.”

He said he regularly went to meetings around the country where he met with thousands of Fine Gael supporters.

“They would have made their views very clear about what they think you should be at, and how the strategy should be for the future to communicate the message of what Government is doing.

“So from that point of view I meet individually with deputies, or collect-ively, and I attend all of the parliamentary party meetings that I can.”

Mr Kenny said senior Fine Gael figures, including himself, would engage more with people on the ground in the coming year.