Flannery ‘unlikely’ to have role in FG election drive

Controversial political strategist Frank Flannery is unlikely to be given an official role in Fine Gael’s re-election drive, Taoiseach Enda Kenny has indicated.

Speculation that the former adviser to Mr Kenny was to be brought back into the fold divided opinion in Government ranks.

Mr Flannery left his backroom role in Fine Gael after becoming embroiled in controversy which engulfed the charity Rehab which he headed for a quarter of a century.

The strategist ignored public pleas from Mr Kenny that he should appear before the Oireachtas Public Accounts Committee (PAC) to discuss the issue as TDs and senators had demanded.

A meeting in a bar near Government Buildings between the Taoiseach and Mr Flannery earlier this month ignited speculation that he may be in line for a return to Fine Gael headquarters.

At the height of the Rehab controversy last year, Mr Flannery also resigned from the charity for which he had acted as a lobbyist.

Mr Kenny moved to dampen talk of a frontline role for Mr Flannery in the run-up to the next general election after Fine Gael support plunged in recent opinion polls.

The Taoiseach said Mr Flannery was entitled to give his views and advice to Fine Gael as a party member, but had no official role in the election campaign.

Foreign Affairs Minister Charlie Flanagan said advice from Mr Flannery would be appreciated.

“I’m not sure the extent to which he will have a role in our planning. This will be a matter for the Taoiseach, a matter for the election committee.

“I don’t envisage a leading role for Frank Flannery but that is a matter entirely for the election committee and the Taoiseach.

“As Minister for Foreign Affairs I am no longer a member of the executive council of Fine Gael, but I would say that in terms of our planning, any expertise or experience that is out there would be welcome.

“Our election planning is underway, notwithstanding the fact there will not be an election for at least a period of 15 months.

“Nevertheless, there needs to be preparatory work undertaken. I wish to acknowledge the experience and expertise of Frank Flannery,” the foreign affairs minister said.

Mr Flannery was credited with helping rebuild Fine Gael after its disastrous showing in the 2002 general election left the party with just 31 seats.

The strategist was praised for playing a major role in Fine Gael’s best-ever result in 2011 when the party took 76 places in the Dáil.

With the party dropping to around 20% in some opinion polls, some commentators have predicted the party intake at the next election, which must be held by Spring 2016, would see it drop to around 40 seats on that level of support.

PAC members said that they wanted to discuss Mr Flannery’s pension from Rehab with him as well as a number of other issues regarding his role with the charity.

Health Minister Leo Varadkar has denied claims that Mr Flannery had acted as an unofficial adviser to him in recent months.

Mr Flannery has said that he will give “serious consideration” to any offer from Fine Gael to help them with the general election battle.