During the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party meeting in December, when Taoiseach Micheál Martin engaged in a dogged defence of his leadership as TDs thrashed out the party’s disastrous presidential election, party veteran Pat the Cope Gallagher warned “this is not over tonight”.
Indeed, five months later and Fianna Fáil backbenchers are at it again.
As we report in our lead story, Martin is facing renewed backbencher unrest in the wake of a destabilising week of fuel protests and the resignation of former Independent minister Michael Healy-Rae from Government.
Three younger TDs – Cork East’s James O’Connor, Galway East’s Albert Dolan and Tipperary North’s Ryan O’Meara – indicated “real and deep concern” with the Government’s response to the protests in a statement on Wednesday.
READ MORE
Miriam Lord has a look at all this in a column headlined: “Watch out Micheál, baby sharks are circling the Fianna Fáil tank”.
The three TDs were backed by former ceann comhairle Seán Ó Feargháil who said a discussion on the future of the party, including the issue of leadership, should be held within the next fortnight.
On Wednesday evening, Ó Fearghaíl, Senator Anne Rabbitte and Cork North Central TD Paudie O’Sullivan sought an urgent parliamentary party meeting to discuss the “loss of connectivity” with grassroots supporters, as well as “leadership initiatives” to “restore public trust and confidence” in the party’s organisation.
Former cabinet minister Willie O’Dea told RTÉ the party leadership was detached.
The interventions did not trigger any public criticism of the Taoiseach by Ministers, or widespread comments from middle-ground TDs, with no potential challenger emerging on Wednesday to seek the leadership.
But privately some members of the parliamentary party indicated there had been a shift in their mood and were critical of the leadership.
One TD, speaking on condition of anonymity, said it was “last-chance saloon” for the Taoiseach.
Another claimed the only thing stopping a heave against Martin was a lack of senior Ministers “putting their head above the parapet” to replace him.
There is more about how the ranks of Fianna Fáil – and also in Fine Gael – are reacting to a tumultuous 10 days here.
Meanwhile, Martin himself is in Berlin today to meet German chancellor Friedrich Merz.
Harry McGee reports the pair will discuss the impact of rising energy prices and the wars in the Middle East and Ukraine.
Best Reads
Consumer Affairs Correspondent Conor Pope has done a fact check on whether Ireland has really introduced the largest fuel assistance package in Europe.
Jack Power reports the EU’s energy commissioner has warned that Europe will face higher gas prices “for years” to come even in the best-case scenario, and possible shortages in the supply of diesel and jet fuel in the short term if the Strait of Hormuz remains blocked.
Wednesday’s Inside Politics podcast discusses the departure of the Healy-Raes from Government. Hugh Linehan, Pat Leahy and Ellen Coyne are joined by columnist Gerard Howlin to talk about a tumultuous day in Leinster House that capped a terrible week for the governing Coalition.
There was other business other than the confidence vote and Healy-Rae resignation in Leinster House this week. Marie O’Halloran reports that the most significant reform of immigration law in the history of the State has been passed by the Dáil and now goes to President Catherine Connolly for consideration and signature. The controversial International Protection Bill was accepted by 86 votes to 62 after a final and curtailed three-hour debate.
United States ambassador to the European Union Andrew Puzder has said if the US-Republic relationship has been damaged by recent differences, there has not been “irreparable damage”. Political Editor Pat Leahy reports.
On the Opinion pages Newtown Emerson details how in less than a month, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales could each have a nationalist first minister and how the current Labour first minister of Wales, Eluned Morgan, warns this heralds a “real possibility” of the UK breaking up. Emerson suggests it seems more likely to cause frustration at the shortcomings of devolution.
There is an interesting piece by Pádraic Fogarty in our Science & Climate section on how Ireland’s hills are victims of policy that hurts farmers and nature.
Playbook
The Dáil kicks off at 8.47am with Minister for Public Expenditure and Infrastructure Jack Chambers taking parliamentary questions.
Next up is Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment Darragh O’Brien at 10.24am.
Leaders’ Questions is at noon.
Government business in the afternoon is a second stage debate on the Air Pollution (Amendment) Bill 2025 starting at 1.52pm.
There is an opportunity for TDs to raise topical issues from 5.26pm.
Legislation proposed by the Opposition aimed at bringing about a process for the disregard of certain historic criminal convictions arising from consensual sexual activity between men will be debated from 6.26pm.
There is to be continued debate on the Mental Health Bill 2024 in the Seanad from 11.45am.
The Committee on Defence and National Security is due to hear from judge Alan Mahon, the Ombudsman for the Defence Forces on the organisation’s 2025 annual report from 9.30am.
Elsewhere, the Committee on Education will discuss the education needs of visually impaired students with Vision Ireland and ChildVision among others.
The Committee on Children and Equality will look at the issue of State provided childcare places and early childcare matters with various organisations including YMCA Dublin and the Lios na nÓg playgroup at 9.30am.
The Department of Education will be quizzed on its 2024 accounts and a Comptroller and Auditor General report on protecting the State’s investment in the schools estate when its officials attend the Public Accounts Committee at 10.30am.
The full Dáil, Seanad and Committee schedules can be found here.
