Debate centres on who Fine Gael should appeal to

At the Red Cow Hotel, “underdog” Simon Coveney has come out fighting for the man in the sleeping bag on the street, as well as the businessmen, during the first of the Fine Gael leadership hustings.

Both contenders, Leo Varadkar and Mr Coveney, came face-to-face to debate in Dublin’s Red Cow Hotel last night.

More than 800 Fine Gael members packed into the ballroom, with supporters donning stickers for their favoured candidate and queuing to get onto the event.