A NUMBER of Fianna Fáil TDs and Senators have expressed unease at party colleagues voicing support for Gay Byrne as a party-backed presidential candidate.
Six of the party’s 34 Oireachtas representatives publicly took issue yesterday with the view advanced by prominent party TDs that if Mr Byrne decided to stand, Fianna Fáil support for his nomination would be a foregone conclusion.
The TDs and Senators criticised what one described as “undemocratic spinning” aimed at taking the power to choose a candidate out of the parliamentary party’s hands.
They said it was unfair to the party’s internal candidates, especially South MEP Brian Crowley, who has declared his interest in contesting the October election.
Mr Byrne disclosed this week that Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin contacted him last weekend to ask him to consider running for the presidency.
A number of the party’s TDs subsequently indicated support for the plan to facilitate Mr Byrne’s running as an Independent. However, a number of other TDs and Senators in the party yesterday said they believed Mr Crowley had the support of the majority of its Oireachtas members.
Kerry Senator Ned O’Sullivan said he was so concerned at the “drip-feed” of support for Mr Byrne from individuals that the party should hold a meeting of parliamentarians as a matter of urgency to determine its position. “I am unhappy that there seems to be an impression abroad that an outsider will have a better chance than one of our own. Are we a party or are we not?”
Senator Mary White said spinning by colleagues was unfair and undemocratic. “Gay Byrne is an outstanding person. But I believe that no decision should take place outside the parliamentary party,” she said.
Cork North West TD Michael Moynihan said he believed “giving the Áras to Gay Byrne is a kind of nonsense idea”.
Senator Mark Daly said the party should choose its own candidate, Mr Crowley. That view was echoed by Wexford TD John Browne.
Cork Senator Denis O’Donovan said Mr Crowley should be given “first refusal”.
When contacted Mr Byrne said “no” when asked whether he had decided on contesting the election. He said he did not know when he would make public his decision.