Taoiseach's advisors "should fall on their swords," says Longford county councillor

In the wake of Jim Gavin’s withdrawal from the presidential race and John Lahart calling for a meeting to discuss new Fianna Fáil's leadership, local Fianna Fáil councillors were asked where they stood regarding Micheál Martin’s future, and whether they believed all party members, including those at local level, should have had a say in who represented the party in the presidential election.

Cllr Seamus Butler opined that “all councillors and the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party should have had a say in selecting a Presidential candidate,” and added that “at the very least his (Micheál Martin’s) inner cabal of advisors should fall on their swords.”

With regard to the leader’s future, Cllr Butler said, “Micheál Martin’s future can only be decided by the parliamentary party and the MEPs.”

Longford Municipal District Cathaoirleach Uruemu Adejinmi, described Jim Gavin’s presidential nomination as a risk that didn’t pay off. She said, “the party presidential candidate selection was a risk that didn’t pay off, but it had the backing of the parliamentary party at the time.

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What’s important now is that we take the lessons learned to improve how members and representatives are engaged in future selections. Micheál Martin has provided steady and effective leadership through challenging times and one incident shouldn’t overshadow that. Any discussion about succession will come in its own time through the proper democratic process.”

Colehill’s Cllr Mick Cahill said he didn’t see any threat to Micheál Martin’s leadership of the party. He explained further, “Our rules state it’s the parliamentary party that selects the Presidential candidate. We had a competition within the parliamentary party between two candidates and it went to a vote. Jim Gavin was the one selected. I don’t see any threat to Micheál Martin.

Cllr Cahill added, “A full review needs to be carried out into the selection process and amend the rules to give the organisation a say in the process. Micheál Martin has been an excellent leader of the country and of Fianna Fáil. He brought us back from the brink. There is now an opportunity for the organisation itself to look at how it does its business and that’s not just down to the leader, that’s down to the party.”