In the latest controversy within Fine Gael, the young president of the centrist party, Killian Foley-Walsh, has been slammed by members for attending a right-wing US conference where Mike Pence was a speaker. This internal row comes just weeks after Fine Gael spilt over Taoiseach Leo Varadkar’s decision to remove Maria Bailey as a committee chair. Some members claimed he “bottled it” in not punishing her further over a controversial compensation claim.
Ms Bailey, a Dún Laoghaire TD, was stripped of her position as chair of the Oireachtas Committee on Housing following her controversial compensation claim.
Ms Bailey signed an affidavit after falling off a swing in a hotel that “overstated the impact of her injuries on her running”, according to Varadkar.
One senior Fine Gael figure said there was “fury and disbelief” Varadkar’s decision among party members.
Now six members of the Young Fine Gael national executive are demanding a “full explanation” from the group’s President, who attended the right-wing conference in the US.
The six members criticised the Young Fine Gael president and the group’s social media officer who did not share information about their controversial trip.
In a statement placed on an unofficial Young Fine Gael Facebook page, the group said: “We are clear that at no point was the national executive informed of this event, that the two members of the national executive attending were not in any way representing YFG or the views of its membership.”
The two attended the National Conservative Student Conference in the US last week, where the US vice president Mike Pence made a speech.
The Young America’s Foundation, who hosted the conference responded to the criticism and said: “The intolerance of the left clearly knows no borders.”
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Mr Varadkar was forced to issue an apology.
He said: “I made some remarks about sinning priests this time last week on Leaders’ Questions.
“They caused offence to people I never intended to offend. I wish to apologise to anyone I offended – including the Deputy – and I withdraw the remarks.”
Fine Gael is currently the senior partner governing in a minority coalition with several independent politicians in Ireland.
