Cowen seeks special FF meeting after ‘alarming’ byelection

Former Fianna Fáil minister Barry Cowen has sought a special meeting of the party in the wake of its disastrous result in the Dublin Bay South byelection.

In an email to party colleagues Mr Cowen said the result - where Fianna Fáil's candidate Cllr Deirdre Conroy got less than 5 per cent of the vote - is "both a shock and alarming but strangely not hugely surprising."

He says: “It cannot simply be brushed aside, ignored or not examined” and he also said he believes the electorate deserve a Fianna Fáil that is “fit for purpose”.

Mr Cowen’s communication to party colleagues doesn’t mention the issue of Taoiseach Micheál Martin’s leadership.

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He has previously said he does not think Mr Martin will lead Fianna Fáil into the next election.

Mr Martin has insisted that he intends to do this and reiterated that yesterday after the byelection result.

Mr Cowen’s letter says he wants a meeting of the party in the summer that people can attend in person to discuss the byelection result and last year’s General Election performance.

He said: “We are still awaiting the Fianna Fáil review of our dismal election of February 2020.

“I know it is considered better not to have an election post mortem too soon after the event but such a delay is simply inexplicable at this stage.

“It is imperative that both that election and the latest bad result now comes under the microscope of the Parliamentary Party.”

He adds: “There is little or no justification for further delay on these matters.

“I appreciate the Government has priority legislation to deal with in the coming week.

“I understand some may feel Government is working well and addressing issues of grave concern around Covid, housing, health, climate change etc.

“I appreciate too, especially having helped negotiate, sell, and win Dáil support for the Programme for Government that its implementation and success is dependent on a full term of office.”

Mr Cowen writes: “I recognise byelections offer opportunities for an electorate to send messages.

“It is good manners to respond to these messages.

“Our Parliamentary Party, its leadership and executive personnel of the party should meet during the summer to reflect, discuss and take on board these messages.

“I believe the electorate deserve a focused, cohesive FF party, that is fit for purpose to serve as a republican party of the 21st century.”

Laois-Offaly TD Mr Cowen was sacked from his role of Minister for Agriculture by Mr Martin last summer after a controversy over a four-year old drink-driving ban.

In an interview with the Sunday Independent in January where he spoke about the leadership issue, Mr Cowen said: “Nobody has a free pass. I personally – and I think a lot of the PP are of the same mind – I don’t think he’ll [MR MARTIN]lead Fianna Fáil into the next election.”

Mr Cowen said at the time that he could "understand" Mr Martin's "willingness" and his "commitment" to continue leading the party after the Taoiseach's job rotates to Fine Gael leader Leo Varadkar in December 2022, but says that a "10-year-plus tenure is sufficient".

Mr Martin marked 10 years as Fianna Fáil leader earlier this year.

Earlier on Saturday Cathal Crowe, a Fianna Fáil TD for Clare, said he does not believe Mr Martin will be leading the party into the next general election.

Mr Crowe said that voters usually convey messages to parties in byelections. “They have been delivered this time.

“There are messages here for Fianna Fáil. Deirdre was a new candidate, she’s only two years in politics and this was a pretty high-profile campaign,” he told RTÉ Radio One’s Saturday with Katie Hannon programme.

He said all of the Government parties lost ground in the byelection and they would have to analyse why this was.

On Friday Fianna Fáil’s sitting Dublin Bay South TD Jim O’Callaghan declined to say categorically that Mr Martin will lead the party into the next general election saying it very much depends on when the election is held.

Asked about a need for a change of leadership, Mr O’Callaghan said “no” but when asked if Mr Martin should lead the party into the next election, he said it depended on when it was held.

When asked if that was 2024 or 2025, he replied: “We will have to think about that.”

He added: “Any leader who indicates a date of departure necessarily weakens themselves. I fully understand when the Taoiseach says he is going to lead Fianna Fáil into the next general election.”

Later in Cork when Mr Martin was asked about the remarks, he said he would continue to lead the party in Government and into the next election.

Mr O’Callaghan - seen as a contender to replace Mr Martin - said the result was “extremely disappointing” but praised Ms Conroy for her efforts.

He was director of elections in Dublin Bay South and asked about his own performance, he said: “I have no difficulty accepting my share of the responsibility but I am exclusively not responsible for Fianna Fáil’s share of the vote declining from 14 to 5 per cent.”

“It’s more complex and complicated than that.”