Simon Coveney, the outgoing Cabinet Minister, expressed his hope for a representation from Cork in Taoiseach Simon Harris’ upcoming government reincorporation. Despite his decision to not contend for a ministerial seat, Coveney suggested Simon Harris accommodate a Cork TD in the government. He implied that such a Cork appointee might be chosen for a subordinate ministerial post.
Coveney shared this point of view at a press conference while inaugurating the Fine Gael ardfheis in Galway. There are conjectures that TD Colm Burke from Cork North-Central might acquire a state minister’s role due to his position as the sole Fine Gael TD in the county who has not announced their retirement from the following election.
Coveney is yet to confirm his participation in the forthcoming election, revealing that he will contemplate over this during the summer. He dispelled any speculation of him backing down in anticipation of potential expulsion by Harris, the new leader of Fine Gael.
Coveney restated that his choice of not presenting himself for the position was motivated by his desire to infuse a fresh spirit in Fine Gael ahead of approaching elections. He emphasised, his decision held no personal losses in regard, but was in the broader interest of creating opportunities for newcomers.
Coveney, who carries a political career of 26 years, is currently the Election Director for Fine Gael in the imminent European Elections. The party aspires to hold onto its seats by fielding five candidates, including former jockey and tv celebrity Nina Carberry and incumbent MEP Maria Walsh, among others.
Mr. Coveney explicitly stated that he has no intention of running for Europe himself. Concerning the sole aspiration of maintaining the current seats held by Fine Gael, Mr. Coveney responded that a pragmatic approach towards these elections must be adopted. To secure five victories, he suggests putting forward five forceful contenders.
At this stage in the campaigns, there has been an encouraging response to Mr. Coveney and all Fine Gael’s candidates. Mr. Kelly recalls the hostile atmosphere during the 2014 elections. However, he stresses that Fine Gael has experienced no such negativity this time around, attributing this to their economic achievements.
Ms. Doherty warned against politicians investing too much time in social media, arguing that it could deter them from engaging directly with the public. From her personal experience of canvassing, she has found that people express their concerns differently in person than they do in the often contentious nature of social media discussions.
Regarding the conflict in Gaza, Mr. Coveney voiced his belief that Hamas should no longer be part of the Palestinian government’s future. He also insisted on holding Israel accountable for its harsh reaction to the terrorism incident, which had devastating impacts on Gaza’s population. He underscored the need for international law to safeguard both Palestinian and Israeli children equally, citing the Irish government’s consistent stance on this issue.
As the appointment of a new European Commission draws nearer, Mr. Coveney staunchly defended the current EU Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen. He praised her exceptional guidance of the EU during a period of intense transformation and stress. He also praised her leadership during the handling of the Covid pandemic and Brexit- something that had never been exhibited to this extent within the EC before. He noted for the first time, Ireland’s interests were prioritised over Britain’s in the international decision-making process.