Coveney to kick off Fine Gael leadership campaign in Cork

Minister Simon Coveney is expected to kick off his Fine Gael leadership campaign at two party meetings in Cork next Monday, writes David Linnane and Rob McNamara.

While An Taoiseach Enda Kenny is not expected to announce his resignation until next two days later at a Fine Gael parliamentary party meeting, formally triggering the leaders, sources within Fine Gael indicated that that Mr Coveney will use two party annual general meetings to rally local members in advance of the campaign.