Fianna Fáil TDs and Senators have been asked for submissions to the party’s review of its collapsed presidential election campaign.
In an email sent to the parliamentary party on Wednesday, the chair of the committee handling the review asked for submissions before next Tuesday.
Ciaran O’Loughlin SC is chairing the review panel alongside TDs Tom Brabazon and Eamon Scanlon, and Senator Margaret Murphy O’Connor.
The parliamentary party was told that there is a “great desire to complete this review in a timely manner”. Members were asked to indicate in their written submission why they want to make an oral submission if they believe one is necessary.
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The intention is to complete the review by November 12th. Much political attention is coming on the report produced by the committee amid ongoing pressure on Taoiseach Micheál Martin from disgruntled backbenchers over the presidential debacle, which saw its candidate, Jim Gavin, withdraw from campaigning three weeks before polling day.
The terms of reference ask it to examine the process by which the decision to run a candidate for the presidency was taken, and assess “the extent of the due diligence carried out”.
It is also to examine the steps taken during the process and the basis for identification and selection of a candidate, up until Mr Gavin, a former Dublin football manager, withdrew, following a controversy around overpaid rent he had not returned to a former tenant of his. Mr Gavin later repaid his former tenant.
Members were told that information gathered during the review will be treated confidentially and that those involved in it “are expected to co-operate fully and maintain confidentiality”.
Recommendations will be submitted to the party’s relevant committee with a request that any changes be drafted and submitted for ratification at the 2026 Fianna Fáil Árd Fheis.
Meanwhile, Mr Martin said earlier today that it is “not fair” to suggest he does not listen to his party backbenchers.
The Fianna Fáil leader said he has had “very constructive” meetings with backbenchers since the presidential election.
He has come under pressure after he championed Mr Gavin to become the party’s presidential candidate.
Mr Gavin’s late withdrawal prompted figures from Fianna Fáil to openly discuss the future of the party’s leadership.
Malcolm Byrne, TD for Wicklow-Wexford, said there was “frustration” on the backbenches “that we feel that a lot of our concerns are not being listened to”.
He said a confidence motion in Mr Martin was “possible” but he did not believe a leadership change would take place “in the short term”.
On his way into Cabinet on Wednesday, Mr Martin said he had had “very constructive” meetings and engagements with TDs.
When it was suggested that he was not listening to backbenchers, he said: “That’s not fair.
“I’m meeting backbenchers over the last couple of weeks, I’ve always engaged with backbenchers, my door is always open to people if they want to engage and discuss.”
Asked about a confidence motion, Mr Martin said: “It’s always available for people if they wish to do something like that.”
[ Micheál Martin now facing ‘more serious’ risk of leadership challengeOpens in new window ]
He acknowledged the “devastation” of the party’s presidential election approach, but added that the general and local elections had been successful for the party.
“We have a lot to do, and I think that people will get impatient if parties focus on their own internal issues to the detriment of the core issues that affect the daily lives of people in this country.”
On Friday, independent Catherine Connolly was elected President.
She was announced as the winner with a commanding margin of 63.36 per cent of first preference votes, ahead of Fine Gael candidate Heather Humphreys on 29.46 per cent and Mr Gavin on 7.18 per cent.
Tánaiste Simon Harris said he did “not at all” feel under pressure from his Fine Gael party after the presidential election and said it was a “unified party”.
“The presidential election did not go the way government parties would have hoped,” he said on his way into Government Buildings.
He said it was always going to be “an uphill battle” for Fine Gael, and referenced that they had to change candidate after former EU commissioner Maireád McGuinness withdrew.
“We ran in the local elections, we got more votes than anyone else. We ran in the European elections, we got more votes than anyone else.
“We went into the general election with only 17 outgoing TDs. We got 23 new TDs elected, 13 new senators elected.
“And despite a very difficult presidential election with many twists and turns and only two candidates, we still polled almost 30 per cent – so onwards with the work.” - PA
