FORMER GOVERNMENT chief whip Tom Kitt yesterday called on Taoiseach Brian Cowen to step down as Fianna Fáil leader, the most senior figure in the party to do so to date.
Mr Kitt said yesterday the time had come for the party to take on new leadership, as the Taoiseach was neither communicating the message nor connecting properly with the electorate.
The Dublin South deputy, who was sacked as chief whip by Mr Cowen when he became Taoiseach in 2008, also called for a special parliamentary party meeting to discuss the leadership question.
The call for a special meeting of the parliamentary party was later supported by Dublin North TD Michael Kennedy.
The request was firmly rejected by Government Chief Whip John Curran, by Ministers and by a number of backbench TDs. Mr Curran said he saw no need for a special meeting.
“It would be nothing other than a distraction from the real issues and the important work of the Government. I know that the vast majority of the Fianna Fáil organisation, the parliamentary party and the rest of the country want us to get on with the real challenge – restoring growth and confidence in Ireland,” he said in a statement.
Mr Kitt told The Irish Timeslast night that the Taoiseach's interview with Morning Irelandduring the party think-in in Galway last week raised the question of his communication skills.
“The Taoiseach has a semblance of indifference. From my point of view, a change in leadership is required.
“Some have argued that a change of leadership would lead to an election. I am strongly arguing against that.
“We need a new direction. There are talented people within our ranks.”
Mr Kennedy said that he had major concerns abut the Taoiseach and the Government’s communication strategy, but said he was not calling for him to resign.
“I want the party to be discussing his communications strategy on how he proposes to deal with the the banking and economic crises.
“Opinion polls tell us we are not getting the message through,” said Mr Kennedy.
A number of deputies, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said that yesterday’s developments – senior Ministers rowing in strongly behind Mr Cowen, his own performance at a press conference at Government Buildings, and the unequivocal statement from the two Independent deputies, Michael Lowry and Jackie Healy Rae, that they would not support a new leader as taoiseach – had eased the pressure on Mr Cowen’s leadership.
However, several said that upcoming opinion polls could reignite the issue if Government support levels disimprove further from historically low levels.
Other TDs, mostly strong supporters of Mr Cowen, yesterday spoke out strongly against any leadership challenge. Limerick East TD Niall Collins said Mr Lowry’s position yesterday had essentially put an end to the debate.
“A lot of this has been artificial. Everybody has lost their sense of proportion,” he said. Dublin North TD Daragh O’Brien also said the party needed to move on.
Galway East deputy Michael Kitt said nothing was going to happen unless a senior person in the party decided to put their name forward.
Chris Andrews from Dublin South East said Mr Cowen had a problem of perception and being able to sell the message.
“It’s all very well making a tough decision. What he is not doing properly is selling it,” said Mr Andrews, who doubted there would be a challenge.
Limerick West deputy John Cregan said too much focus was being put on style rather than substance, a view echoed by Minister for Defence Tony Killeen. “The Cabinet has closed ranks. If there was a contest, I am sure that Brian Cowen would command a very strong majority,” he said.
Mr Cowen’s leadership has come under intense scrutiny since his radio interview with Morning Ireland last Tuesday. He has since apologised for his performance, which followed a late night at Fianna Fáil’s annual think-in at a hotel in Galway.