Micheál Martin open to recruiting more Independent TDs

Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin has signalled his interest in recruiting more Independent TDs to the party, after former Independent TD Stephen Donnelly joined the party on Friday.

Mr Martin said he was not currently in talks with any other Independent. “I’m not talking to anybody at this particular point of time.”

But he said “we are open to people to join the party. We’re open to engagement, to new ideas and policy inputs”.

In an interview on RTÉ radio's This Week programme, he said it was "very clear from the time I became leader of the party that I do welcome new talent, new ability and indeed people who may want to join us, we'll certainly engage with them".

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Defending the recruitment of former Social Democrats TD to the ranks of Fianna Fáil, he rejected suggestions he was allowing the Wicklow TD to leap-frog other long-serving members who had worked hard for the party, in appointing him to the frontbench as Brexit spokesman.

Mr Martin insisted that the message the move sent was that “Fianna Fáil is an evolving party. It’s open to talent and ability across the board”.

He stressed the party’s goodwill for the move and the new member. Referring to the “Leinster House bubble” he said the feedback from the party had been very positive both from the parliamentary party and members across the State.

Paying tribute to the party's sitting Wicklow TD Pat Casey, he acknowledged the challenge for him in having a second party TD in the constituency and said "Pat has been very gracious".

This was reflected in a unanimous welcome across the party for Mr Donnelly whom he described as “very articulate capable parliamentarian, strong on policy and genuinely committed to the future of the country”.

The Fianna Fáil leader also denied he had given Mr Donnelly any commitment or promises of government office after the next general election.

“In terms of any situation post general election, in terms of government or anything like that there is no understanding with Stephen or indeed with anyone else for that matter.”

He also said Mr Donnelly did not seek any commitments and that he had appointed him as Brexit spokesman because he believed there should be a Brexit minister and “Brexit is here and now. It’s happening.”

It is understood however that Mr Martin’s recruitment of the Independent TD is a warning to senior party parliamentarians that they need to bring in a second TD in a number of constituencies if the party is to recapture lost seats and return with up to 60 seats after the next election.

It had been thought that Mr Donnelly might plump for Fine Gael but it has two sitting TDs, Minister for Health Simon Harris and Minister of State for Agriculture Andrew Doyle and no scope for a third seat.