Enda Kenny: Don’t hand economy to those who’d wreck it

Taoiseach Enda Kenny has told party delegates they must not “hand” the economy to “unknown quantities with unknown intentions” who might “wreck” any recovery after he and two other Fine Gael TDs in his constituency were selected unopposed to run in the upcoming general election.

Addressing party members at the Mayo selection convention in Claremorris, the Fine Gael leader said the issue is not an abstract view but directly impacts on “yourselves, your families and your children” in the future.

The late-night event became a de facto walk-through as 300 Fine Gael members backed him, junior sports minister Michael Ring, and backbench TD Michelle Mulherin to run unopposed on a three-person ticket in a constituency Fine Gael dominated in 2011, winning four of five seats available at the time.