Lenihan ‘told TDs about his leadership ambitions’

FINANCE Minister Brian Lenihan made his leadership ambitions known and encouraged dissent among Fianna Fáil backbenchers over the course of last year, it has been claimed.

A number of party TDs disputed the minister’s claim that he never sought support for a possible heave against Brian Cowen, or expressed interest in the leadership.

“I’ve actually never said I would contest the leadership if there was a vacancy,” he said in an interview with Sean O’Rourke on RTÉ.

“I haven’t had time to organise a coup or a challenge in the past year,” he said. “I didn’t have the luxury of indulging my ambitions on this particular matter.”

His comments caused fury among backbenchers as they headed into yesterday evening’s meeting of the parliamentary party.

At least four TDs said publicly that Mr Lenihan had discussed the leadership issue with party members, while a number of other TDs privately agreed.

“There was a procession of TDs in and out of his office over the course of six months last year,” said one backbencher. “He was all set for the challenge and then he balked at it.”

A number of TDs believe Mr Lenihan’s comments will damage his prospects of becoming leader if he contests it after the general election.

Carlow-Kilkenny TD John McGuinness spoke to Sean O’Rourke immediately after the minister’s interview, and said: “What Brian Lenihan has been saying to you is not what he has been saying to backbenchers over the last number of months.”

He said “integrity and truthfulness is central” to discussions taking place in the party over recent days.

“He did encourage dissent, he did encourage us to look at the numbers, he did express an interest in the leadership and that is what’s shocking about what he has revealed today. That is not what he had to say to us over the course of last year.”

His constituency colleague Bobby Aylward said he never had any discussions with the Finance Minister about his leadership hopes.

Speaking before Mr Lenihan announced his intention to support Mr Cowen, Kildare South TD Sean Power said he would be “surprised and shocked” if the minister supported the Taoiseach.

“I have spoken to Brian over a long period of time and the concerns that we expressed were very much shared by him,” he said.

Earlier, Mr Martin said: “I do know Brian [Lenihan] has had a lot of discussions with TDs about this over the past months.”

Dublin North TD Michael Kennedy said he was “really disappointed” with Mr Lenihan’s remarks.

“I never asked directly ‘will you challenge Brian Cowen’ but I would certainly have been of the view that Brian Lenihan would like to be the leader of Fianna Fáil,” he said.