Coveney dismisses suggestions of growing and damaging rift in party

Housing Minister Simon Coveney has dismissed fears of a damaging party rift in Fine Gael after he was accused by his leadership rival of “divisive and dishonest” politics during last night’s heated final hustings event, writes Eoin English.

Housing Minister Simon Coveney has dismissed fears of a damaging party rift in Fine Gael after he was accused by his leadership rival of “divisive and dishonest” politics during last night’s heated final hustings event, writes Eoin English.

Speaking in Cork today where he was canvassing support in Kinsale, Mr Coveney said he was neither, and insisted Social Protection Minister Leo Varadkar made the comments during a “blunt, honest and straight shoot-out”.