Ó Cuív in threat to form breakaway party as FF slumps

WITH Fianna Fáil’s popularity slumping to just 10% in a weekend poll, deputy leader Éamon Ó Cuív has reportedly made a veiled threat to form a breakaway party.

Mr Ó Cuív, currently involved in a bitter standoff over how the party should approach the presidential election, makes the startling claim in a TV3 documentary to be aired tonight.

In the Rise and Fall of Fianna Fáil, Mr Ó Cuív claims the party may have to keep the ideals of the party alive “under some other name”.

“I think we served the country well. I believe that market, that view, that idea that Fianna Fáil represented has to be in Irish politics. And if it’s not possible to do it under the name Fianna Fáil, well, then we’ll have to do it under some other name — but the ideal lives on and that’s the important thing,” he told TV3.

Mr Ó Cuív also questions whether the party has become “a seriously damaged brand”.

“You know, the thought does enter my mind — are we going to be forever damaged by the actions of the few? If that were so, maybe we have to look at a new way forward for the very, very same ideals.”

Talks will continue today between Mr Ó Cuív and his party leader Micheál Martin as a bitter stand-off continues over how the party should approach the presidential election.

Sources said it’s unlikely a compromise will be reached ahead of tomorrow’s crunch meeting of the parliamentary party where a final decision is to be agreed.

As the latest opinion poll showed support for the party at 10%, pressure is growing on leader, Micheál Martin, to sort out the mess created by disagreement over the contest.

He was in contact a number of times over the weekend with his deputy, Eamon Ó Cuív, who is resisting a decision to not support any candidate.

Mr Martin was also in touch with party senator, Labhrás Ó Murchú, who created fresh tensions last week by announcing his ambitions to contest the Áras and asking that the parliamentary party be given a free vote to nominate a candidate.

It’s understood Mr Martin asked him to explain how he can credibly run as an independent candidate while being a member of Fianna Fáil.

The leader believes the party should stay out of the race altogether and its 33 Oireachtas members should not be allowed to facilitate the entry of any independent candidates.