FF backbenchers clash with Martin over ‘submissive attitude’ to Fine Gael
FIANNA Fáil is at war over what its best response to Tuesday’s Budget should be.
This week several leading rural members, including Niamh Smyth, Marc MacSharry, Pat the Cope Gallagher and John McGuinness, had heated exchanges with the party hierarchy over its ‘submissive attitude’ to Fine Gael.
Afterwards, it was claimed the row was about the failure of Fine Gael to notify Fianna Fáil of a new €21m town and village renewal scheme.
In fact the real source of the row was a split ‘within the party over those who are confidence-and-supply insiders and the rest of us’.
In particular, a major divide is developing between the party TDs and frontbenchers Dara Calleary and Michael McGrath, who are negotiating the final details of the budget with Paschal Donohoe.
One senior Fianna Fáil source told the Irish Mail on Sunday of Mr Calleary and Mr McGrath: ‘These clowns think they are in government. Fine Gael must be laughing their heads off at the lads coming in thinking they are ministers.’
A source claimed that amid the internal FF rows this week, party leader Micheál Martin was told: ‘We are becoming the Labour Party of this government. Fine Gael are getting all the praise and we are getting all the blame.’
The gathering tension led to what was described as ‘a right old shouting match between Micheál and the backbench TDs, the new ones. It was like the good old days, with McGuinness and the top table shouting at each other.’
The new TDs reportedly told Mr Martin they were ‘getting it in the neck’ in their constituencies over the confidence-and-supply deal.
One TD said: ‘Micheál Martin responded with a stonewall refusal to countenance concerns, demanding that members “think of the long game” and keep things in perspective.’
Other sources were critical of Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe, with one saying; ‘Paschal appears to have forgotten there is a confidence and supply agreement in place. This is not his budget.’