FG National Consultative Conference Supports Party Participation In New Government

Fine Gael's National Consultative Conference has passed a resolution in support of the party's participation in the new Government.

The Conference, attended by 500 delegates from across the country, heard keynote speeches from An Taoiseach, Enda Kenny; An Tánaiste, Frances Fitzgerald; Ministers Simon Coveney and Richard Bruton; as well as contributions from other Ministers and an open forum of delegates, in which 60 Party members individually contributed.

A motion tabled by the Party's Executive Council, congratulating the Taoiseach and his negotiating team, affirmed Fine Gael's participation in Government, and resolved that the Party as a whole would work to ensure the Government is sustained and successful.

Chairperson of the Fine Gael Executive Council, Gerry O'Connell, said: "It was agreed that in view of recent political developments, a National Consultative Conference should be convened in order to consider and give assent to the political agreement which has been reached with the Fianna Fáil party and with Independent members of Dáil Éireann, facilitating the formation of a Fine Gael led Partnership Government.

"The Agenda was framed in order to provide the Party membership with an unprecedented level of briefing, information and consultation in respect both of government formation and the new political reality the Party faces.

"This event was historic and without precedent in the Party's history and the debate was positive, constructive and good humoured."

The full text of the motion passed is as follows: "That this National Consultative Conference congratulates An Taoiseach and his negotiating team on the formation of the Partnership Government, affirms Fine Gael's participation in the Partnership Government on the terms laid out in the Programme for Government, and resolves that the Party as a whole will work to ensure that the Partnership Government is sustained and is successful."

(MH)