Fine Gael must be "up for fighting" for a fourth term in office, its deputy leader Simon Coveney has told a party gathering.
Opening a one-day special conference in Maynooth, the Minister for Enterprise told members that next year will be a "watershed moment in Irish politics" and Fine Gael needs to be at the centre or it.
"As we move towards the end of a third term in Government, we are up for fighting for a fourth," he said.
"This party needs to use days like today to prepare for what is coming. Next year is a watershed moment in Irish politics.
"This party needs to take its place at the centre of that debate, and have confidence that our record in Government is something we can sell and be proud of".
Mr Coveney said Fine Gael has "a vision for Ireland" and seeks to represent everybody, "unlike increasingly a lot of other parties who are trying to carve out electoral advantage by actually sewing division in Irish society".
He also acknowledged "discontent and frustration" among the party membership over the past ten years of its party in Government "wanting a stronger voice, wanting more of a say in terms of policy direction and wanting to ensure that the senior political decision makers in the party and party headquarters is more tightly connected to the membership".
The minister said a lot of work has been done to address those concerns.
Hints of a 2024 general election from @simoncoveney opening @FineGael conference in Maynooth: "As we move towards the end of a third term in Government, we are up for fighting for a fourth," he says adding "next year will be a watershed moment in irish politics" @rtenews pic.twitter.com/C9i1CBX3z3
— Mary Regan (@MaryERegan) November 18, 2023
Speaking at the conference, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar told reporters he does not know when the next general election will be held as it has not been decided.
There may be 15 months left in this government's term, but Fine Gael members have been put firmly on an election footing.
With almost a third of its TDs set to step aside from politics, the party will need to energise its grassroots.
At today's conference taking place in the Glenroyal Hotel, there was a special session on party structures and the role of members.
This conference was also about getting back to basics, with a focus on rural Ireland, in particular the farming and food sector, as well as law and order.
It will also host the first annual general meeting of the Fine Gael's Women's Network.
This is not an Ard Fheis so there will not be a televised leaders' address.
But there will be a question and answer session with the party leader Mr Varadkar, which will be streamed live on its social media channels from 5pm.
Fine Gael leader Leo Varadkar tells party members Govt has made progress on social housing and says they are building more social housing than anytime since the 1970s. Says supply is catching up with demand but there adds there is a big deficit. @rtenews pic.twitter.com/tkNto2ywFR
— David Murphy (@davidmurphyRTE) November 18, 2023
'Really important' RTÉ introduces reforms - Donohoe
Meanwhile, Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform Paschal Donohoe has said it is "really important" RTÉ introduces reforms, which it has said it would implement in order to draw down funding next year.
Mr Donohoe said the disbursement of money for the broadcaster next year was "conditional".
He said Minister for Media Catherine Martin was going to finalise two reports on governance and culture in RTÉ.
He said the "New Direction for RTÉ" reform plan published by the broadcaster this week introduced commitments on a salary cap and reducing the number of staff earning in excess of €100,000.
Mr Donohoe added: "These are commitments that have not been in place before. That direction is really appropriate at a time when we are making €56m of the taxpayers' money available on a conditional basis to RTÉ."
Mr Donohoe would not be drawn on reports that one radio show host will earn in excess of the salary cap until his contract expires in 2025.
When asked if he would remember his own salary, following clarification from RTÉ regarding comments made by Director General Kevin Bakhurst regarding his remuneration, the minister he said he hoped he would get it "about right".
