Exhausted Enda still reeling as focus swings to key advisers

Enda Kenny yesterday made his first public appearance since the general election, and the pressure of last weekend’s defeat was telling.

Looking exhausted, Mr Kenny was still reeling from his party’s failure to be re-elected and the internal recrimination within Fine Gael over the botched campaign.

Given how weak his position is, Mr Kenny was forced to admit he wants to open talks with Fianna Fáil in a bid to form the next government. The Fine Gael leader insisted that “nobody wants a second election”.

Speaking at the launch of a 1916 rising museum at Collins Barracks in Dublin City, the Taoiseach said that while people may have voted for his party to keep Fianna Fáil out, Friday’s vote means all parties now need to be open to talks.

But it was Mr Kenny’s inner team who refused to listen to their TDs who were warning that the party’s message during the campaign was not working.

In the wake of a disastrous Red C poll which showed the party’s support had slumped five points in 10 days, TDs were screaming that the Fine Gael message of “let’s keep the recovery going” was tanking.

But what is clear is that those in charge of the campaign were not for listening.

Key senior campaign advisors Brian Hayes and Mark Mortell steadfastly refused to listen to those concerns and urged people to stick to the message.

Mayo TD Michael Ring lashed out at the “Dublin-centric” advisers, who were out of touch with the hurt felt by the people across the country.

During the campaign, the party’s top strategy committee met every day to co-ordinate the party’s strategy, ground war, and positioning of the manifesto.

The team was made up of the likes of Mr Hayes, Mr Mortell and Tom Curran, as well as advisers like Mark Kennelly, Andrew McDowell, Terry Murphy, Majella Fitzpatrick and Ciaran Conlon.

Mr Hayes has conceded that the campaign was too Dublin focused and also accepted responsibility for the campaign’s failure.

But today, Mr Kenny will attempt to contain the fallout when the new Fine Gael Parliamentary Party meets in Leinster House.

Mr Kenny and his top team will face the wrath of the TDs who have returned over the campaign and will seek to get agreement on a set of policies to allow them try and form a Government.

Mr Kenny is fighting for his political survival.

For more election news, analysis and general banter join us HERE