Taoiseach under pressure within Fianna Fáil amid fuel protest fallout

James Cox

The Taoiseach is under renewed pressure from within his own party over last week's fuel protests.

A number of senior backbench TDs are demanding an urgent meeting of the parliamentary party, with reports some are trying to garner support for a heave against Micheál Martin.

Last night the Taoiseach met with three of the youngest Fianna Fail TDs after they released a statement criticising the timing of the Coalition’s response to what they describe as "deep frustration" within communities.

On Wednesday, Fianna Fáil TDs James O’Connor, Albert Dolan and Ryan O’Meara expressed “real and deep concern”, stating that “it should not require protests and deep community frustration to get a Government to listen and to act”.

The three TDs said their statement was “not about challenging any individual or singling out any member of Government”, but instead about provoking the party “to do better”.

They said Fianna Fáil should “listen more closely”, “speak more honestly” and “act more ore decisively in pursuit of the common good”.

The TDs said their “most experienced” colleagues share their views.

Former minister Willie O'Dea also said the Government had been "badly damaged" by its handling of the fuel protests.

Speaking to The Irish Times anonymously, one TD said it was “last-chance saloon” for the Taoiseach. Another said “there’s a little bit of the straw that broke the camel’s back” when it comes to the fuel protests and Martin's leadership.

The Irish Examiner has been told by TDs and senators that there is “more appetite than ever” for a change of Fianna Fáil leadership.

Meanwhile, thw Irish Independent reports TDs are plotting a "heave" against Micheál Martin, and 'sounding out' the ministers including Dara Calleary, Jim O'Callaghan and Darragh O'Brien over leadership bids.

Any meeting with Martin will likely have to wait as he is in Berlin on Thursday for a meeting with German chancellor Friedrich Merz.