Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin has said the party will take a “collective decision” on how it will treat approaches from presidential candidates seeking its backing.
Speaking to reporters at the first day of his party’s two-day special parliamentary party meeting in Tallaght this morning, Mr Martin said that its TDs and Senators decided two weeks ago to agree collectively on its strategy, once it had made a decision not to run its own candidate.
That leaves it open for the party to nominate one candidate, or take a decision to allow all 33 TDs and Senators a free vote to nominate individual candidates.
Mr Martin said it could also mean that the party makes no decision until after nominations had closed on September 27th and then decided to support one of the nominated candidates.
“We have decided to take a collective approach in terms of any options that take place between now and polling day,” said Mr Martin.
He said he had no knowledge of David Norris making an approach the party. It is known also Dana Rosemary Scallon and Justin Kilcullen of Trocaire have expressed interest but neither has made a formal approach to the party.
Mr Martin said the presidency issue was not the party’s ultimate priority at the two-day session. He said it would focus primarily on the economy, unemployment, jobs and mortgage arrears.
In his opening speech, Mr Martin mentioned proposed radical changes to the way the party operates that will be put before its Árd Fheis in February.
This means a change to a one-member one-vote, subscription fees and a possible ending of the 85 year cumann structure in Dublin.
“The basic principle is that we must empower our members,” he said.
During the speech, he referred to the party offering a strong and “constructive” opposition, that would support the Government when it believed its strategy was correct.
He contrasted that with the opposition being provided by Sinn Féin and the Technical Group, both of which he said were taking the route of total opposition.
“They will oppose every measure which might be unpopular pretending that we live in a world where there is an easy answer to every problem.
“This approach lets the government off the hook because it ignores reality and lets policies through without proper scrutiny. “They may well get short-term hits in, but it the long-term it will lead them nowhere.”
Nonetheless, Mr Martin also considerably sharpened his criticism of the Coalition in his speech. He was particularly critical of the jobs budget he said it was “political manoeuvring” that would wear out the public’s patience and “actually cost jobs”.
He also claimed the Government had a thin skin.
In a passage of the crisis in the euro zone, he was scathing of the role of the ECB and also accused the Government of sitting on its hands.
“The enormous failings of the ECB have again been exposes, with borrowers enduring wholly unnecessary interest rate rises… “The Taoiseach’s [Enda Kenny] approach to Europe has been to step back and in the Dáil he has refused to engage on points of substance.”
Mr Martin said the party would prepare a set of proposals on the future of the EU over the next few months.
He denied when questioned by reporters that he was leading the party to a eurosceptic position.
Mr Martin also referred to the report of the Mahon tribunal, which is expected this autumn, and which is likely to criticise former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern.
Without naming him, Mr Martin said the report “will address the behaviour of a number of parties. It will have wide implications.
As far as Fianna Fáil is concerned we will respond quickly and comprehensively to all matters no matter how difficult they are.”