Taoiseach Micheál Martin has brushed aside questions on the future of his leadership of Fianna Fáil as “speculative” and said backbenchers have not raised the issue with him.
His remarks came in the wake of a report that some members of the party said they will not vote for Fine Gael leader Leo Varakdar to become taoiseach in December unless Mr Martin steps down as leader of Fianna Fáil.
There was also a meeting of backbench TDs and Senators in recent weeks that discussed policy and the direction of the party in the absence of ministers, though many of those involved denied it had anything to do with the leadership issue.
The Irish Mail on Sunday reported a significant number of Fianna Fáil TDs will not support Mr Varadkar in the vote to appoint him as taoiseach unless Mr Martin agrees to step down - a move that would collapse the Coalition Government.
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Asked about this on Sunday, Mr Martin said he would not comment on “a speculative piece”.
He said backbenchers have been coming to him about various issues that are “nothing to do with the leadership” and they are “interested in [the] development of policies and so on”.
Mr Martin added: “I’m out with TDs around the country and the response I’m getting from people is very, very strong.
“We’ve just come through a vote of confidence with 19 votes in the difference, there was a lot of hype before that vote of confidence … and the Government won comfortably”
A long-time critic of Mr Martin, Fianna Fáil Carlow-Kilkenny TD John McGuinness, said he believes the Taoiseach should step down as party leader in December when the switching of roles is due to take place with Mr Varadkar.
He said it would be “natural timing” as Fianna Fáil plans for the next election.
Mr McGuinness said it should be done in a “constructive way” in co-operation with Mr Martin to give the party time to have townhall meetings with potential successors.
He also said there should be a review of the Programme for Government.
Mr McGuinness told Newstalk’s On the Record programme Mr Martin has “done very well” as Taoiseach during the Covid-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine but “no one stays in position forever”.
He said “a lot” of the parliamentary party is “becoming anxious” about how close Fianna Fáil has become to Fine Gael and a lack of distinction between the parties.
He added: “The time has come to create that distinction and to follow the policies that we once had.”
Mr McGuinness said he agreed that his party colleagues should not vote for Mr Varadkar as taoiseach if Mr Martin intends to stay on as leader of Fianna Fáil but said: “I would hope it would not come to that”.
He said he would promote this course of action with colleagues but accept the consensus of the parliamentary party on the direction it chooses to take.
