MEP Brian Hayes to be Fine Gael’s election director

Taoiseach Enda Kenny is set to name MEP Brian Hayes as Fine Gael director of elections ahead of a special gathering tomorrow of party candidates in Dublin.

It had been speculated Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald would be appointed to the position, given she chaired the party’s national strategy committee, but her heavy work load was said to have ruled her out.

The meeting of candidates will take place tomorrow in a bid to co-ordinate party messaging and strategy in the run up to the election, now expected to take place on February 26. Ms Fitzgerald’s committee, composed of representatives of the parliamentary party, the national executive, and Fine Gael headquarters, has been meeting on a regular basis for almost a year.