Fine Gael are putting plans in place to win at least one seat back in the Premier County in the next election.
The party are in Clonmel today for their annual think-in, which puts the focus on rural Ireland.
Fine Gael was wiped out in Tipperary in the 2016 General Election – the first following the amalgamation of North and South Tipp.
Both Tom Hayes, a former Minister of State, and Noel Coonan, lost their seats when the constituency went from a 6 to a 5 seater.
Speaking to Tipp FM at the party’s think-in in Hotel Minella this morning, Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney says they’re going to put a lot of effort in to regaining at least one seat in the Premier.
Overcrowding at South Tipp General Hospital, the upgrade of the N24, and agriculture are three of the main topics people in the Premier will hope can be addressed at the think-in.
Meanwhile, Ireland South MEP Sean Kelly has described the Fine Gael think-in in Clonmel as a ‘statement of intent’ by the party.
MEP Kelly told Tipp FM having the think-in in Clonmel shows that Fine Gael are showing interest in rural Ireland.
Parliamentary party chairman Martin Heydon told Tipp FM that the reason for choosing Clonmel for the think in had nothing to do with the party losing both their seats in the constituency last time out.
However, he said Fine Gael was determined to regain an Oireachtas seat in Tipp next time out.
