Fianna Fáil Senator Anne Rabbitte has said there is “huge annoyance” within Fianna Fáil regarding the party’s handling of the Presidential Election.
Speaking to RTÉ’s Morning Ireland, Ms Rabbitte said the issue is “far deeper” than the ongoing party review into the presidential campaign.
“I think its far deeper than that now, that’s the feedback I’m getting from the grassroots, that’s the feedback I’m getting from the councillors. There’s huge annoyance about the last 24 hours.”
Yesterday, a decision was made by those unhappy with party leader Micheál Martin to allow the review of the party’s presidential campaign to be completed within the next fortnight before taking any action.
Several TDs claimed that ten of required 12 signatures for a no confidence motion in Mr Martin have been secured.
Sources close to the party leader said a party review of the presidential campaign is well under way and will be completed within weeks.
Several TDs claimed that ten of the required 12 signatures for a no-confidence motion in Micheál Martin have been secured
A former TD for Galway East, Ms Rabbitte said that there is “a huge amount of annoyance and upset” among Fianna Fáil members in Galway.
“There is a conversation that needs to be had to move it forward, in relation to how we got it so wrong,” she said.
Ms Rabbitte said that the question of Micheál Martin’s leadership will be up to the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party members.
She said she agreed with Fianna Fáil TDs John Lahart and John McGuinness, who spoke yesterday regarding Mr Martin’s leadership.
Mr McGuinness said that the party needs a new leader in the not too distant future.
“We do have to look at the structures within the party, but we also have to question the leadership team, which is made up of the Taoiseach, some unelected advisers and Fianna Fail headquarters,” he said.
Speaking on RTÉ’s This Week, he said the party made “serious errors” in the Presidential Election campaign, which ultimately saw its candidate Jim Gavin dropping out of contention.
Watch: Lahart says Presidential Election result reflects error of judgement that will have consequences
Mr Lahart said members of the parliamentary party were actively talking about Mr Martin’s leadership.
“It is a conversation that the party needs to have. The events of the last few weeks, the result yesterday, and the outcome of the result have brought that conversation forward,” Mr Lahart said.
Mr Lahart said the centre has not held politically and a left-right divide has been created in Irish politics for the first time.
“I don’t think Fianna Fáil can just sit back and observe that,” he said.