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Micheál Martin’s “lack of leadership” from his party has prompted a harsh reprimand from his own TDs during a private meeting.
DTs within the party expressed a palpable feeling of frustration, even among those who would be seen as loyal to Mr. Martin because of the party’s low position.
“We have lost people. The party is in a bad place and Micheál doesn’t listen, ”said an angry TD.
At a zoom teleconference meeting of the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party, the Taoiseach was directly challenged by several of his party members, including some of his own ministers, who expressed concern about the gap between the leadership and the TDs.
Several TDs said they agreed with the criticism Marc MacSharry had leveled at Martin, who told Martin he could not lead on several fronts.
He asked Mr. Martin to stop holding joint press conferences with Leo Varadkar.
Mr. MacSharry is believed to have said: “Leo is cleaning the floor with you and making circles around you. Every time you do it, you’re losing. “
MacSharry also asked Martin to stop the acting medical director from appearing on television every night saying he is “scaring people.”
He compared the relationship between the party leader and his TDs to that of a teacher and his students.
According to various sources, he said that there is no leadership in the party, that there is no management of it, and the parliamentary party is expected to be empty glasses and eager to learn from the master.
Kilkenny TD John McGuinness reportedly told their leader that the game is in serious trouble and they have “lost people” to walking events in recent weeks, including golfgate.
McGuinness reportedly told colleagues that a new party executive is needed that would involve replacing current president Brendan Smith.
McGuinness said it was nothing personal against Smith, but that the parliamentary party should elect its own chair at the beginning of each Dail, and not by acclamation as has been the case.
Several sources present at the meeting said that Robert Troy, the junior trade minister, apparently criticized the lack of inclusion by Martin and his senior ministers of contributions from fund TDs, and even junior ministers, in the formation of government policy.
Troy confirmed that he spoke at the meeting, but did not specify what he said out of respect for confidentiality.
It was also said that MEPs Barry Andrews and Billy Kelleher criticized the lack of a review of the result of the “disastrous” general election for the party in February.
Several TDs of the FF say that the mood within the party is “very bad”, and one says that if the country were elsewhere “something would have happened already.”
Mr. Martin is said to have told his members that the selection of a president and executive is a matter for him to decide.
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