Fine Gael to undertake 'extensive consultation' with members before Galway West by-election

 Fine Gael’s Seán Kyne is expected to contest the by-election. Picture: Rolingnews.ie

Fine Gael is to undertake "extensive consultation" with members ahead of the Galway West by-election and will conduct its own review into the presidential election campaign.

Fine Gael has not won a Dáil by-election since 2014 when Gabrielle McFadden held the seat in Longford-Westmeath after the death of her sister, Nicky.

There is an expectation that the local convention could be contested by sitting senator Seán Kyne as well as former Young Fine Gael president Eoghan Gallagher and councillor Eddie Hoare.

Mr Kyne previously won a seat for the party in Galway West in 2016, but lost it in 2020 and was unsuccessful in 2024. He had originally planned to step back from politics after his 2024 defeat, but returned to the upper house of the Oireachtas and was made leader of the Seanad.

Mr Kyne said he has not ruled out a run, having been asked to consider it by supporters.

In an email to members, the party said its Executive Council had discussed the by-election caused by the election of Catherine Connolly to the presidency and had "decided that in the first instance there would need to be extensive consultation with the Galway West constituency".

"To that end, the Executive Council will establish a joint committee between itself and the Galway West Constituency Officer Board, and that Committee will organise meetings of each individual branch and also with each public representative to get their input, prior to making recommendations on the strategy to be employed in the bye-election."

Mr Gallagher told the Irish Examiner that a run is something that he had "not considered" until being contacted by supporters.

Election review

Meanwhile, the party said it would carry out a review into what it called Heather Humphreys' "hugely energetic campaign" for the presidency. Some within the parliamentary party had suggested that a review would be carried out, but members were told that the executive has established a Sub-Committee, chaired by executive member Colm Breen to "document the Presidential Election campaign, and arising from that to make recommendations for future campaigns".

"While there will be some recommendations for future Presidential campaigns, most recommendations will focus on what the immediate implications are for our campaign activity. This work will be completed in November," members were told.

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One Fine Gael source said they believe any report must "ask questions of senior members of the party" who had "pushed Ms Humphreys' candidacy" after Mairead McGuinness had withdrawn in August on health grounds.

"Everyone respects Heather, but the nominations were sewn up before we had a chance to even discuss anything. Some people will want a review to focus on everything but their own part in that."

Fine Gael also told members that party leader and Tánaiste Simon Harris had been "on election footing" since he took over as leader last April and would now work to meet constituency groups in less formal ways.