Fine Gael National Press Office
Press Statement by Enda Kenny TD
Leader

Monday 8th February 2010

“I’m greatly saddened by George Lee’s decision to resign from Fine Gael and politics just eight months into his new Dáil career.

“In July I appointed George to Chair the Parliamentary Party’s Economic and Business Affairs Committee which all members of the Party could attend, and which  was designed to act as a core group in developing Fine Gael economic policy  for  the  next General Election. During a period of great political uncertainty when a  General Election seemed imminent George played a very important  role  in  Chairing  our Business and Economic Forums around the country  before Christmas.  These  played an integral part in planning our pre-Budget  submission.  George,  along with our other economic Spokesmen, planned  and presented that Fine Gael position to the media at Budget time. I  had  anticipated  a very important role for George in the coming period with Fine Gael after a time of settling into a new career in politics.

“As  part of our economic team George was due to attend the OECD later this week  together  with  a senior Fine Gael delegation. Regrettably that, and other  developments,  will  not  now  happen after George’s decision today.

While  I  regret  his  decision  I would like, on a personal level, to wish George and his family well in the future.”

Ends

Newsflash! George Lee has resigned his Dublin South seat and membership of the Fine Gael party after a mere nine months as he said it was made clear he had no place to institute change.

He said he went into politics for a specific reason and he didn’t believe he could achieve that. Lee said that the Fine Gael front bench were ‘nice people’. His appointment as chairman to an economic committee was pointed to as a face exercise.

Olivia Mitchell dispelled Lee’s assertions saying that he went to parliamentary party meetings but added nothing ‘new’ to the meetings. Newstalk is reporting that Mitchell and Michael Ring both said Lee should have given it more time. Epic sour grapes expected to follow.

Update!

George Lee’s Statement

I wish to announce that I have resigned from the Fine Gael Party and from my seat in Dáil Eireann today Monday 8^th February 2010.

It has been a very difficult decision, but it is one that I have taken after a great deal of reflection on my position and on the role that I have been playing in Fine Gael since I joined that Party in May last year.

The nine months since then have been a period of enormous economic upheaval. Throughout that period I have done my best to play a positive role in contributing to the national debate and to efforts to find a solution for many of the country’s economic problems.

The reality, however, is that despite my best efforts I have had virtually no influence or input into shaping Fine Gael’s economic policies at this most critical time.

The role I have been playing within the party has been very limited and I have found this to be personally unfulfilling.

When I entered politics last May I made it clear that I was doing so because I wanted to try to play a new role contributing to economic policy formulation. After nine months of trying within the political system it is now my considered view that the role available to me within Fine Gael is not a role I am happy to play.

I would like thank most sincerely all those who campaigned for me, for all of their efforts and support. I would also like to thank my Secretarial and Parliamentary Assistants for all of the help and work that they have provided to me.

I particularly want to thank the electorate of Dublin South who voted for me in such large numbers last May. It has been a great privilege and an honour to serve on their behalf. However, I do not believe I would be serving the electorate honestly if I were to continue allowing my efforts and mandate to be used to promote and market economic policies into which I have had no input.