FIANNA FÁIL leader Micheál Martin is under renewed pressure following the announcement yesterday by MEP Brian Crowley that he was no longer seeking the party’s nomination for the presidency.
Critics of Mr Martin are expected to vent their frustrations with the electoral strategy when the parliamentary party meets next week. One told The Irish Timeslast night that the party leadership was "throwing in the towel" on the presidential race and failing to listen to its grassroots.
Mr Crowley has made no secret of his desire to run for the presidency and contacted Mr Martin about this more than three months ago. Mr Martin set up a sub-committee to make recommendations on the matter, which is to meet for the first time on Monday.
Separately, however, the Fianna Fáil leader approached broadcaster Gay Byrne last month and offered to nominate him as an Independent candidate. Mr Byrne rejected the idea after a week of consideration.
While deputy leader Éamon Ó Cuív has said the party should run its own candidate, other party figures want to focus available resources on the local elections in 2014.
Mr Crowley said yesterday he had decided not to be a candidate for a party that continued to be divided on its approach to the election. With much disappointment, he did not feel free to seek the nomination because of this internal division.
He later told RTÉ that he didn’t understand the lack of enthusiasm of the party leadership for an internal candidate, adding: “If you’re a political party, if you’re serious about being a relevant national movement, you should be fighting elections.”
Asked whether he felt “let down” by Mr Martin, Mr Crowley said it was a mistake that Fianna Fáil was not running a candidate.
He said he bore the party leader “no animosity” but said he should be listening to the grassroots of the party.
In a statement, Mr Martin said he fully respected Mr Crowley’s decision: “He is an excellent parliamentarian and a valued member of the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party.
“The process remains the same for deciding the party’s strategy for the presidential election. I have established a sub-committee that is scheduled to meet next week. The committee is tasked with submitting recommendations to the parliamentary party, which will make the final decision in the coming weeks.”
Cork Fianna Fáil Senator Ned O’Sullivan said he would have been happy to see Mr Crowley run for the party but respected his decision. He said he respected the leader’s decisions so far but it was long overdue for the party to establish what its position was in relation to the election for the presidency.
Another prominent party figure said Fianna Fáil should not run a candidate because it had no chance of winning the election: “It’s not about shying away from a contest, it’s about being realistic”.
The committee set up by Mr Martin comprises deputy leader Éamon Ó Cuív; TDs Timmy Dooley; Dara Calleary and party whip Seán Ó Fearghaíl, and Senator Darragh O’Brien.