KATE O’CONNELL

BACKBENCH TD FOR DUBLIN BAY SOUTH

PROS

Kate O’Connell has made a name for herself since entering the Dáil with astute and well- timed statements on abortion issues and the leadership. She was the first TD to come out and say that Enda Kenny should allow somebody else to take over. Of course there is no precedent for a backbencher catapulting to taoiseach but this is an outsider section. She should throw her hat in to raise her profile. If Coveney, who she is backing, wins she could find herself in Cabinet, perhaps at the Department of Health where Simon Harris is anxious to get out.

CONS

No backbencher has ever gone straight to taoiseach and she has rubbed some senior colleagues up the wrong way by getting more attention than them. SUITABILITY 3/10 FOR TAOISEACH