Enda doesn’t deserve to be pushed says Simon Coveney
AS speculation mounts as to the future of An Taoiseach Enda Kenny, a man tipped to be amongst the front runners in any leadership contest, Simon Coveney has said the Fine Gael leader should not be rushed into making any decision.
Minister Coveney was speaking in Sligo on Friday morning where he turned the sod on a housing scheme at Forthill and hosted the regional launch of Ireland 2040, a rural redevelopment plan.
“There isn’t a leadership contest right now. We’ve been through a difficult week as a Government. I think that the view in the party is that we want to settle the Government down.
“There’s a lot of talk about leadership contest and so on and I think that reflects the conversations that have been happening within Fine Gael about ensuring that we are prepared for an election should that happen even though I think people think that’s unlikely and when you face down a motion of no confidence like we did this week, well then people obviously then talk about what if there was an election and if we are ready and I think that’s where the conversation around the leadership has emerged as obviously the Taoiseach has said he wouldn’t lead the party into the next election and so that raises the issue of leadership.
“So, my view on this is very clear, Enda Kenny is leader of the party and has been for 15 years.
“I trust him and his judgement in terms of when the right time to look at making changes in the party will be and I don’t think we should be trying to rush that.”
Minister Coveney agreed that Kenny is under pressure to name an exit date but he said that’s because lots of people want to get the excitement of a leadership contest underway.
“Enda has been here before and I don’t think he’ll be rushed by other people.
“He’ll think about this and he’ll make up his mind and I think he’ll share that with the party when he is ready and I don’t think we should be trying to force that process.
“I’ve know Enda for a long time and he’s not the kind of person who’s going to be rushed by other people.
“He’ll make his own mind up and I think he’s right to do that. I think he has earned that right as well He’s been an extraordinary Taoiseach through a very difficult time and he is still a very strong leader of the party.
“He does have the respect of the party and I think they will give him the time and space to do that.
“There are certain people in the party who have come out and are trying to force things but I don’t think that is the right thing to do.
“I think we’ll get through next week and we’ll move on from that.
“At some point in the not too distance future the party with Enda leading that party will have a discussion about how we make the necessary preparations and changes well in advance of any possibility of an election but I think it’s really important to separate what’s been happening this week and that process.
“And, I think people like me need to focus on our responsbilities as ministers like he is doing as Taoiseach. “All in good time I would say.” He added that there’s an acceptance there’s going to be an election contest but that there was also huge trust and respect in Enda Kenny that he should decide when that happens.
“The majority in the party want to move on from a difficult week. There are some in the party who I think are making demands that are unreasonable of Enda Kenny and I think he is strong enough and I think he comfortably has enough support to make up his own mind in good time,” said the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government.
The Minister turned the sod at Father O’Flanagan Terrace where 22 units will be built. The homes will be a mix of one, two and three bedroom houses and apartments, which are designed to achieve an A3 BER rating, making them some of the most energy efficient houses in the town.
The overall cost of the project is around € 3.7m and it will provide valuable construction activity in the town.
“Delivery is now happening for social housing in a real way, and today is an example of that.
“We are getting projects approved and launched and nationally, we now have over 500 approved social housing projects that will give us around 8,500 new social homes, and we’re constantly adding to that list”.
The Minister urged local authorities to accelerate the delivery of housing units and make the most out of the major public investment that is going into housing. And he assured local authorities that the funding is there to support their efforts.
The Minister paid tribute to the Elected Members and Council Officials in Sligo for bringing this new and ambitious project forward and wished the contactor, Brendan Sammon Ltd, the design team and all involved in this project, all the very best in achieving the timely delivery of the new homes.
The scheme at Fr O’Flanagan Terrace will be done in two phases.
“I hope that in 18 to 20 months, I or somebody else will be back here cutting a tape and celebrating with new residents who will be moving in here, many of whom who might have been on a waiting list for for far too long,” said the Minister.