Dempsey to "warm up" for Taoiseach at Ard Fheis

Meath TD and Minister for Transport Noel Dempsey will provide the "warm-up" speech for the Taoiseach, Brian Cowen, at the Fianna Fail Ard Fheis in Citywest Hotel, Dublin, at the weekend. The annual gathering of the Fianna Fail faithful takes place on Friday and Saturday, 27th and 28th February, in Citywest. Mr Dempsey is one of the more senior members of Mr Cowen"s cabinet, and has served in the Departments of Environment, Education, Communications and Marine and is currently responsible for the Department of Transport. Previous high profile Fianna Fail figures assigned with "rallying the troops" included Brian Lenihan senior, Maire Geoghegan Quinn, Brian Cowen and John O"Donoghue. It is Fianna Fail"s 72nd Ard Fheis, and Brian Cowen"s first since becoming leader of the party.