Young FG group defies Kenny order to disband

A GROUP of young Fine Gael TDs which was told by Taoiseach Enda Kenny to disband has resumed meetings in recent weeks out of “frustration” with the lack of engagement by the party leadership on key issues.

Some 10 newly elected Fine Gael TDs formed the “Five-a-Side” group earlier this year with a view to putting forward collective views on key manifesto issues at parliamentary party meetings. It held several meetings and its members were critical of some Government policy decisions, including aspects of Minister for the Environment Phil Hogan’s handling of the household charge.

However, when the Taoiseach became aware of the group in May, he told TDs there was “no place for five-a-sides” within Fine Gael and ordered it to disband. The members were reportedly told its next meeting would not take place via a text message that stated: “Tonight’s five-a-side has been cancelled.” The group was then made up of: Anthony Lawlor (Kildare North), Martin Hayden (Kildare South), Pat Deering (Carlow Kilkenny), Paul Connaughton jnr (Galway East), Seán Kyne (Galway West), Brian Walsh (Galway West), Noel Harrington (Cork South West), Seán Conlon (Cavan Monaghan), Eoghan Murphy (Dublin South East) and Brendan Griffin (Kerry South).

However, the party leadership became suspicious last month that the group had reformed and was secretly meeting again. On September 14th, at the first Fine Gael parliamentary party meeting after Minister for Public Expenditure Brendan Howlin’s disclosure that he would achieve only €3.5 million of a promised €75 million in savings on allowances, five members of the group – Mr Murphy, Mr Griffin, Mr Conlan, Mr Connaughton and Mr Lawlor – spoke consecutively towards the end of the meeting, all protesting at what was described as an abject failure for the Government.

A source close to the group insisted they were not acting in concert. “It looked like it was all planned but it was genuinely spontaneous.”

Individuals close to the Taoiseach became suspicious the group was meeting again and put out informal “feelers”, some as late as last weekend, to find out the extent of its activities.

The source within the group said it had no intention of reforming but former members became frustrated at a lack of engagement by the party leadership. It has held at least one meeting since to discuss what it said were failings in the leadership when it came to dealing with backbench TDs. It is thought that nine of the original 10 TDs attended to get a sense of the “lie of the land”.

Mr Walsh, the Galway West TD, is believed to be no longer associated with the group.