Daniel McConnell: Varadkar speaks of progress but Fine Gael is not a party of change

Leo Varadkar takes aim at gangland element during ard fheis speech, praising Micheál Martin, and warning against Sinn Féin. But all his talk of positive changes aren't enough

Fine Gael leader and Tánaiste Leo Varadkar meets attendees at the Technological University of the Shannon in Athlone, Co Westmeath, for the Fine Gael ard fheis on Saturday. Picture: Damien Storan/PA Wire

In coalitions past, there was an unwritten rule that if one party was having a party conference on a particular weekend, their Government partners would go dark and leave the pitch clear.

So it was with some surprise and raised eyebrows that on the weekend of the Fine Gael ard fheis, there was Fianna Fáil leader and Taoiseach Micheál Martin making himself available for the media on Saturday morning.