Elaine Loughlin: How Helen McEntee became a serious contender to lead Fine Gael

She's started reclaiming FG’s progressive credentials, all the while embodying a refreshing modern outlook on family life

Helen McEntee is certainly going about her job in a way you would if you wanted to lead a political party or maybe even the country some day.

Her reframing of the Department of Justice and the work it does was summed up last week when a remarkable thing happened outside the gates of Government Buildings. As she stepped out onto the pavement, she was greeted by cheers and applause.