FIACH KELLY
Fine Gael
TDs and Senators will elect a new chairman of the parliamentary party tomorrow, with calls for a strong figure who can stand up to Ministers and speak for the party rather than the Government.
Nominations for the position close this afternoon, and the contest follows last week's promotion of former chairman Charlie Flanagan to Cabinet as Minister for Children.
A number of TDs are competing for the position, which Mr Flanagan used to create a much higher profile for himself, making the contest for his successor keenly fought.
The names being mentioned include Waterford TD Paudie Coffey, Laois-Offaly TD Marcella Corcoran-Kennedy, Co Limerick TD Dan Neville, Cork North West TD Áine Collins and Galway East TD Paul Connaughton.
Mr Coffey is seen as the leadership’s favourite, while Mr Connaughton is a member of the “five-a-side club” of younger TDs.
Dublin South East TD Eoghan Murphy said Mr Flanagan had set an example of how a chairman should operate. “We need someone who is going to be a voice of the party rather than the voice of the Government.”
Other TDs said the chairman must be able to stand up to Ministers and represent the rank-and-file backbenchers and Senators.
