Varadkar defends Fine Gael's by-election performance despite losing seat

The Tánaiste and Fine Gael party leader said even he is not automatically entitled to a place on a Fine Gael ticket, in what was seen as a thinly-veiled attack on former TD Kate O'Connell

Fine Gael candidate James Geoghegan and Tánaiste Leo Varadkar arriving at the count centre for the Dublin Bay South by-election last week. File Picture: Brian Lawless/PA Wire

Leo Varadkar has defended Fine Gael's performance in the Dublin Bay South by-election, despite the fact that candidate James Geoghegan was unable to retain the seat vacated by former housing minister Eoghan Murphy.

Mr Varadkar also defended the party's selection measures, adding that even he is not entitled to an automatic place on a Fine Gael ticket, which may be interpreted as a thinly-veiled attack on former TD Kate O'Connell.