A Fianna Fáil backbench committee due to be formed next week has been welcomed by Taoiseach Bertie Ahern despite being created by TDs disaffected with his leadership.
As senior Fianna Fáil figures rallied round the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern met with one of his staunchest internal critics, on a scheduled visit to Kilkenny today.
Mr Ahern met John McGuinness, one of 16 TDs preparing to form a body along the lines of the 1922 Committee, which gives backbenchers in Britain's Tory Party considerable power within the party.
All the party's TDs were today due to receive a letter of invitation to attend a meeting on Tuesday evening where the committee is due to be created and a chairman announced.
Fianna Fáil backbenchers have long complained that their views are not listened to and that the Progressive Democrats have too much influence over Government policy.
The TDs are concerned that the Government policies that led to the collapse of the Fianna Fáil vote in the 2004 local elections have not been properly addressed.
The party lost 20 per cent of their council seats and control of numerous local authorities, many of which fell in to the control of Fine Gael/Labour pacts.
The plans for the committee were reportedly hatched over the past five to six weeks and were shrouded in secrecy. The Irish Timesreports that the Taoiseach was unaware of the move.
One of the TDs who will join the committee, Pat Carey, denied the group had been a long time in the planning, saying he first heard about it in "informal chats" last Wednesday.
Mr Carey said it was being created with a view to creating "a platform to have a greater say in policy".
"We've been saying for a while that we better try to get some way of getting involvement in policy formulation before the next election or else we'll be ignored," Mr Carey told ireland.com.
He denied there was any "intrigue" involved and noted the Taoiseach today welcomed the move.
Mr Ahern said the group did not show there was a rift in the party and denied that he ahd been kept in the dark about the proposal.
"If you think there is any row between the leadership and backbenchers in this then you are absolutely wasting your time because we are totally at one," Mr Ahern said.
"The backbenchers have consulted me and they've been saying for quite a period of time that as we prepare the manifesto for the next election they want to be engaged in the discussions," he added. Minister for the Environment Dick Roche said the group was not "a dissident Fianna Fáil group". "That is a misnomer."
Seamus Kirk, chairman of the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party, welcomed the initiative: "I think it is important that we look at it from the point of view — any new initiative will this energise, will it bring positivity to our thinking as a parliamentary party?"
Mr Ahern had hoped the more caring image launched at the parliamentary party's annual meeting in Inchydoney, Co Cork, in 2004 had assuaged backbench concerns after the local elections disaster.
Of particular concern to backbenchers at the time was the health service, particularly the Hanly Report on the restructuring of hospital service; childcare provision; and a shortfall in regional investment.
However, some backbenchers still feel they are not being listened to and have complained that parliamentary party meetings are little more than a procedural necessity.
Barry Andrews told RTE radio today that there was little discussion on policy at the meetings and votes were not taken.
The Irish Timesnamed 10 TDs who had signed the letter being circulated inviting backbenchers to attend the meeting where the new committee is due to be set up. They are: Jim Glennon (Dublin North); Pat Carey (Dublin North West); Dr Jimmy Devins (Sligo Leitrim); John Maloney; (Laois/Offaly'); Barry Andrews (Dún Laoghaire); Johnny Brady (Meath); John McGuinness (Carlow/Kilkenny); Noel O'Flynn (Cork North Central); Michael Moynihan (Cork North West); and Cecelia Keaveney (Donegal North East).