Peter Burke and Micheál Carrigy to lead Fine Gael hunt for two Longford-Westmeath seats in general election

In a strategy many both inside and outside the party had been expecting, Fine Gael delegates rubberstamped the candidacies of Enterprise Minister Peter Burke and Senator Micheál Carrigy at its convention in Athlone’s Radisson Blu Hotel last night.

The fact there was no contest underlined the faith senior party bosses have in taking two seats from the constituency’s new look five seat format.

A large slice of that belief would appear to be predicated on Mr Burke maximising his first preference share as a senior government minister in order to bring his Longford based counterpart across the line with him.

The Mullingar chartered accountant’s polished rhetoric and the seemingly incessant willingness by party chiefs to send him out to bat for the Government at every opportunity are further indicators of that sentiment.

“It’s an honour to be selected by Fine Gael members in Longford and Westmeath to contest the next general election alongside my colleague Senator Mícheál Carrigy,” Mr Burke said following last night’s convention.

“Representing the people in my community continues to be a privilege and one I never take for granted.

The father of two said running busy constituency clinics every week and in his new role as Minister for Enterprise, were two factors that gave him a “unique viewpoint” on business and the ways in which to support an industry that is still struggling to find its feet in a new post-Covid era.

“We have seen the management of our public finances translate into a growing economy with record levels of employment. We must now protect this progress and build on it, so we can continue to drive massive investment in housing, health, public services and infrastructure.

"Electing two Fine Gael representatives in this new five-seater constituency will mean we can continue to grow our economy and improve the quality of life we can offer to every person in Longford-Westmeath.”

Those all-encompassing soundings were ones that were echoed by Mr Burke’s electoral running mate.

A former county councillor and Cathaoirleach of Longford County Council, Senator Carrigy has never made any secret of his ambition to make the transition from the Oireachtas’ Upper House to that of a TD.

In his four years or so in the Seanad, the Ballinalee postmaster has been a regular fixture in addressing topical debates through his role as party spokesperson on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sports and Media.

Equally, he was front and centre in his role as Cathaoirleach of an Oireachtas Joint Committee on Autism that saw a wide-ranging report being published that called for greater financial support to be afforded to families accessing private autism assessment and therapies.

“The past number of years have dealt many challenges to every person and family living in the Longford-Westmeath constituency, and around the country. It has been an honour to represent my constituents and I’m extremely grateful to the Fine Gael members for putting their confidence in me for being their standard bearer for this constituency, and I intend to continue to uphold the core values of our party.

“My focus is securing two seats for Fine Gael in Longford-Westmeath by continuing to work together. Minister Burke and I will deliver for the party and for the people of this constituency.”

Whether he and Fine Gael get that opportunity, only time will tell.