Kenny rejects suggestions Fine Gael sidelined George Lee

Speaking on RTE Radio’s News at One programme this lunchtime following the news yesterday that Lee had resigned from Fine Gael and given up his seat in Dail Eireann, Kenny rejected Lee’s claims that he was sidelined by the party and given no chance to participate in the formation of its economic policy.

He said he had given the former RTE economics editors “a unique position” in the FG party by creating an Economic Committee “which had the remit of driving FG economic policy as we prepare for the General Election”.

Kenny said the committee had the opportunity to meet every Tuesday and call in bankers, industrialists and even developers before the Fine Gael party.

“He had the opportunity to drive that and he didn’t take it up,” he added.

Kenny also said when he brought Lee to Fine Gael’s business forums around the country, that was Lee’s opportunity to sit down with Richard Bruton and Leo Varadkar.

First indications
According to the FG leader, the first indication he had that Lee was unhappy was when he came to him last Tuesday afternoon. “At no time since his election did George say to me that he was unhappy or disillusioned,” Kenny said.

Kenny added that he had reminded Lee last year after his by-election win that he would come off an “emotional Everest” and into a trough like all successful by-election candidates and said he had told Lee he would be there to help him adjust to “what is a very big change” into politics.

Front bench position
The FG leader also confirmed that he had offered Lee a position on the Fine Gael front bench last week after Lee said he wanted to leave the party. However, Kenny said the offer did not come under duress, but in respect of Lee’s own future “to look at how long he wanted to stay in politics”.

“I made it very clear to him that I would be looking to him to become a minister,” Kenny said, before answering ‘Yes’ to the question that he had offered Lee the prospect of being in the next Cabinet.

Kenny said he advised Lee to take the front-bench position and that if Lee still felt the same about the party after three months, he would not ask him “any more questions”.

Brilliant opportunities
Kenny said he had held out “brilliant opportunities” for George Lee and that it saddened him that he left, adding that Lee had come from a “comfortable” position in RTE to the “rawness” of politics.

Kenny also said that he had made it clear to Lee and to everybody that he would not be shifting Richard Bruton from his position in the party.

Asked about Richard Bruton’s loyalty, Kenny said he had no doubts about that loyalty, saying his deputy leader had been “a loyal party member” to every leader he has served under.

Focus on changes
While the FG leader admitted the Lee episode had been damaging to the Fine Gael party and to Irish politics generally, he said his focus was now on speaking out from his heart on what changes the country needs.

“My focus is on changing this country, the same journey I invited George Lee to come on,” Kenny said.

Unanimous support
Kenny was speaking following a meeting of the Fine Gael front bench in Leinster House this morning.

He said a frank discussion had taken place between himself and his colleagues over the Lee affair and that his front-bench colleagues had given him their unanimous support “for where we’re headed”.