Kenny aide demoted over Sinn Fein gaffe
Flannery will apologise to party before taking on new role at HQ
FINE Gael leader Enda Kenny last night dramatically demoted his chief election adviser, Frank Flannery, over his gaffe on a potential coalition deal with Sinn Fein.
The party's long-serving strategist will no longer hold the position of director of elections, after his comments caused uproar and acute embarrassment to Mr Kenny at a crucial juncture in the lead up to June 5 polling day.
In a show of renewed strength, Mr Kenny disclosed that he would be appointing a new director for the forthcoming general election campaign.
Mr Flannery (65) has not been sacked and remains as the director of organisation, based in party headquarters in Mount Street, Dublin.
However, he will offer an apology to Fine Gael TDs and Senators for his comments.
Fine Gael has argued that the comments did not inflict too much damage on the party vote. But there was a widespread realisation that such a controversy could have caused potentially serious damage in a general election campaign. Mr Flannery's demotion is significant because he was one of the key figures in the revival of Fine Gael's fortunes since the 2002 general election meltdown.
He wrote the plan for the party's recovery and has been a key figure in candidate selection and electoral strategy in all the elections since.
Mr Flannery was FG director of elections in the 2004 local elections, 2007 general election and 2009 local elections.
The party's environment spokesman Phil Hogan is the obvious favourite for the director's job, although education spokesman Brian Hayes is also a contender.
Mr Kenny made the announcement at the start of Fine Gael's post-election meeting early yesterday.
He effectively nipped the issue in the bud, before any of his TDs or senators brought up the controversy.
The response of party members to the decision by the party leader was mixed, but most believed he had made the right move.
"I think there is a lot of sympathy for him (Frank). We know what he was trying to do in terms of transfers, but it came out wrong. But we can't have unelected officials talking policy," one TD said.
But another TD remarked it was "proper order" for Mr Flannery to be dropped.
"It is the party's elected public representatives and frontbench spokespersons who will be doing the talking and setting policy. It's not the paid officials," another frontbench spokesman TD said.
"Enda had to address it today and he did. No unelected person will be talking on behalf of the party," another senior TD said.
Mr Kenny's spokesman last night confirmed the party leader's intention to appoint a new director for the general election.
"Frank's director of elections functions on this occasion ceased on Friday. He will still have a role as director of organisation," the spokesman said.
Electoral strategy will be the preserve of the party leader and parliamentary party, he added.
Relations between Mr Kenny and Mr Flannery are understood to be "cordial".
"He has done a huge amount for the party," a party source said.
FG will devote its entire parliamentary party meeting next week to reviewing its election performance.
Part of the review is expected include some discussion on the party's possible coalition strategy going into the next general election.
"There is going to be a discussion on electoral strategy. We will have to clarify what the Fine Gael position is," one TD said.
Complaints
Despite the party's gains, the meeting is also likely to hear some complaints from Dail deputies and senators.
"No matter how many seats we win, there are always a few who won't be happy with one aspect or another," a party source said.
Yesterday's parliamentary party meeting lasted less than an hour and welcomed new star TD George Lee, along with new MEP Sean Kelly, the former GAA president who stormed to victory in Ireland South. The meeting got under way after Mr Lee delivered his maiden speech in the Dail.
The former RTE Economics editor caused a stir by claiming three senior government ministers were asleep in the chamber during the debate on the leadership of the country.
The new Dublin South TD accused the Cabinet of literally falling asleep on the job as he launched a scathing attack on Taoiseach Brian Cowen's embattled Government, which survived the no confidence motion by a margin of six votes last night.
Mr Cowen saw a confidence motion in his Government passed, steadying his battered coalition.
- Fionnan Sheahan and Aidan O'Connor
