The Taoiseach is under renewed pressure from within his own party over last week’s fuel protests.<\/p>\n
A number of senior backbench TDs are demanding an urgent meeting of the parliamentary party, with reports some are trying to garner support for a heave against Miche\u00e1l Martin.<\/p>\n
Last night the Taoiseach met with three of the youngest Fianna Fail TDs after they released a statement criticising the timing of the Coalition\u2019s response to what they describe as “deep frustration” within communities.<\/p>\n
On Wednesday, Fianna F\u00e1il TDs James O\u2019Connor, Albert Dolan and Ryan O\u2019Meara expressed \u201creal and deep concern\u201d, stating that \u201cit should not require protests and deep community frustration to get a Government to listen and to act\u201d.<\/p>\n
The three TDs said their statement was \u201cnot about challenging any individual or singling out any member of Government\u201d, but instead about provoking the party \u201cto do better\u201d.<\/p>\n
They said Fianna F\u00e1il should \u201clisten more closely\u201d, \u201cspeak more honestly\u201d and \u201cact more ore decisively in pursuit of the common good\u201d.<\/p>\n
The TDs said their \u201cmost experienced\u201d colleagues share their views.<\/p>\n
Former minister Willie O’Dea<\/a> also said the Government had been “badly damaged” by its handling of the fuel protests.<\/p>\n