VARADKAR ‘EAGER FOR FRANCES TO STAY IN HIGH-LEVEL ROLE’
TAOISEACH Leo Varadkar has told former tánaiste Frances Fitzgerald he wants her to remain ‘in a full-time public and political role at the highest levels’, she revealed last night.
She said he made the comments in a meeting yesterday morning, when she resigned from Cabinet.
Ms Fitzgerald was last night selected to run in the next general election during a convention which heard that her ‘integrity and honesty are second to none’.
Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe also arrived to the convention and delivered an impassioned ten-minute defence of Ms Fitzgerald.
The former tánaiste was selected to run for Fine Gael in the next election, alongside councillor Emer Higgins, in her constituency of Dublin Mid-West.
Ms Fitzgerald stood and told the gathered crowd at the private event that she had found being at the centre of the crisis difficult.
‘It has been the greatest honour of my life to serve in Government, but I do believe my resignation was necessary to avoid what we all know would have been an unwelcome and potentially destabilising general election,’ she said.
Ms Fitzgerald also gave details of how she broke the news of her resignation to Mr Varadkar, saying: ‘What I said to the Taoiseach this morning when I met him is that it’s historically a critical time for
Ireland with Brexit and the challenges coming up ahead.’
She added: ‘I have to say, it has been very tough being at the centre of this political storm, not something I’m used to, not something too many people are used to.
‘It has also been very hard to get facts on the table and I want to say that to you amid the very frenzied political media atmosphere; throughout my career I’ve always wanted to act with integrity and responsibility and that’s why I decided on this occasion that I would put the national interest ahead of my personal reputation.
‘I’ve always believed in fairness and equality, it’s been a driving principle for me.’
Ms Fitzgerald also said that she wanted to thank the Taoiseach for his ‘loyalty and support’, adding: ‘I’ll always be grateful to him for giving me the opportunity to serve and as he said this morning, he wants me to continue to play a full role in political and public life at the highest level and that’s what I want to do. I want to vindicate my good name as well, of course.’
She was proposed as an election candidate by Fine Gael member David Ruddy, who told hundreds of attendees during a private address at Finnstown House in Lucan, Dublin: ‘When Frances came to this constituency we were in a bad way. She rolled up her sleeves, a private citizen. She held endless public meetings.’
‘Her integrity and honesty is second to none. She is such a kind, honest and warm person.’
Addressing Ms Fitzgerald, he added: ‘I am thrilled on this very difficult day that you are not walking away. You are here to fight for your constituency, your party and your country – and above all your good name.’
Finance Minister Mr Donohoe said: ‘Rarely has a person of such quality and character as Frances been tested in the way she has been tested.’
He said that days like yesterday prove that politics is a ‘vocation, not a job’.
‘I don’t know when the next election will be,’ he added. ‘We know when it wouldn’t be. As tough a day as we face today, it would be more challenging if it hadn’t been for the choice (Frances) made. Because of what happened today, we have a potential for a different day tomorrow.’
Senator Catherine Noone, who chaired the event, said of Ms Fitzgerald: ‘Her record is exemplary. When it comes to actions taken by her in relation to whistleblowers, she brought in a programme of fundamental reform.’