IN the most concrete Fine Gael step towards a general election, the Taoiseach has appointed Mr Mark FitzGerald as the party's director of elections, reports Geraldine Kennedy, Political Correspondent.
A veteran of numerous Fine Gael campaigns, Mr FitzGeraId (39) is the son of a former Fine Gael Taoiseach, Dr Garret FitzGerald. He is also a trustee of Fine Gael and managing director of Sherry FitzGerald, estate agents.
In accepting the appointment, which was announced last night, Mr FitzGerald has resigned his chairmanship of Bord Iascaigh Mhara.
Mr FitzGerald's appointment fuelled speculation in Leinster House that the Government is preparing for a May election. Senior Government and Fine Gael sources attributed no significance to the timing, however, presenting it merely as "a further infrastructural arrangement for an election this year".