Louise Burne: No early start for the party 'who get up early in the morning' at jovial Fine Gael think-in

'The Fine Gael faithful gathered in the Amber Springs Hotel in Gorey from 5pm on Thursday, standing dutifully around Tánaiste Simon Harris during his press conference.'

In the run-up to the Fianna Fáil think-in in Tullamore, there was a lot of grumbling from the press pack.

Their gripe was that Taoiseach Micheál Martin had decided to do his opening media doorstep at 9:45am on a Monday morning to kick off his party’s two full days of thinking. An event well and truly aimed at people who get up early in the morning.

However, Fine Gael, the party of the people who get up early in the morning, took a very different approach to their away day.

The Fine Gael faithful gathered in the Amber Springs Hotel in Gorey from 5pm on Thursday, standing dutifully around Tánaiste Simon Harris during his press conference.

Afterwards, it was out for canvassing Enniscorthy and Gorey, before coming back to the hotel for a barbecue (indoors, despite it being the sunny south east), and drinks before bed.

The thinking would have to wait until Friday.

Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael spend a lot of time trying to differentiate themselves from each other. Now, entering their second five-year stint in coalition, the parties are seen by the public as one entity.

The main difference, however, between Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael is the lack of “an awkward squad” or a group who give out about everything and anything in Fine Gael.

Micheál Martin is constantly looking over his shoulder for backbenchers attempting to run at his back with a knife. If they don’t like what the Government is doing, by God will you know it.

As senior sources said, Fine Gael is still going through a “period of renewal” following the installation of nearly two dozen newly elected TDs in the 2024 general election.

As one senior source told the Irish Examiner, everyone is just happy to be there. There is no one unhappy or giving out.

“Yet,” they added.

As a result, the Fine Gael think-in was more of a parliamentary party meeting being held off-site.

At the start of the proceedings proper at 10am on Friday, party chairman Micheál Carrigy warned TDs, senators and MEPs that they would all have two minutes to speak from the floor before their tea break at 11:30am.

Given the level of clapping during the behind-closed-doors meeting, the tea had to be pushed out until 12pm.

Tánaiste and Leader of Fine Gael Simon Harris, speaking at day two of the Fine Gael think-in at the Amber Springs Hotel, Gorey, Co Wexford. Picture: Fergal Phillips

Sources say there was no clapping at the Fianna Fáil think-in.

But, as senior Fine Gael sources will say, there is not the same level of infighting or distrust in their ranks, which makes these kinds of days more cohesive.

It also risks, however, the party becoming boring. Their think-in sessions focused on important matters, including the economy, the European presidency, a united Ireland, the renewal of the party, and “making Ireland work better”, such as improving housing, childcare, healthcare, climate, and transport.

These sessions were squeezed into one day, with proceedings expected to wrap up by 7pm on Friday evening.

While the quality of discussion is more important than the length of them, the fact that the think-in was squeezed into a single day was interesting given the renewal that the party says they are going through.

But, hey, at least the party of “people who get up early in the morning” did not make the journalists get up early in the morning.

• Louise Burne is Political Correspondent.