Keep calm and don’t talk water, Michéal Martin tells Fianna Fáil TDs

Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin has told party TDs to downplay talk of “red line” issues before any potential negotiations on government — which could take at least two months — begin.

The opposition leader gave the official line to what one TD said was a “nicely crowded” post-election parliamentary party meeting yesterday, as he stressed the need not to alienate potential supporters before next Thursday’s taoiseach nominations. Mr Martin gave a short speech to TDs during a 90-minute private meeting at Leinster House at which he was given a standing ovation. He welcomed new politicians before emphasising the need to keep public comments calm over the coming days.

The Cork South Central TD told colleagues water charges is not a “red line issue”, because no talks with Fine Gael or any other party have officially begun.

When they do, he said it is likely negotiations could take at least two months, meaning no government will be formed when the Dáil returns next Thursday and the country is facing the prospect of a caretaker coalition until summer.

The meeting, which was attended by 44 TDs, including 25 newly-elected politicians, was described by a number of sources as being more of a welcome session for the new national politicians and a thank you to those who worked throughout the election campaign.

A short discussion is understood to have taken place over the party’s position on Irish Water, with a number of TDs noting that while the lack of refunds if charges are scrapped has gained attention in recent days, people who have failed to pay their bills up to now will be made to do so under the party’s plans.

Mr Martin stressed the need to downplay the furore over the issue to help secure support for his nomination as taoiseach from independents and smaller parties. He confirmed he has held talks with these individuals in recent days.

As previously reported by the Irish Examiner, Mr Martin said he has already reached out informally to the Social Democrats and Greens, while Independent TD Michael Collins last night said: “I have spoken to Micheál. I am not going to say I agreed completely with everything he had to say, but he came to West Cork to meet me”.

At yesterday’s gathering, Galway West TD Éamon Ó Cuív said the party must focus on a three-point plan in the coming weeks, including the much-vaunted Dáil reform, policy areas, such as homelessness, and working to ensure Mr Martin receives the most nominations for taoiseach next Thursday.

Party TDs Pat ‘the Cope’ Gallagher, Michael Moynihan, Brendan Smith, and Seán Ó Fearghail put their names forward to be Fianna Fáil’s ceann comhairle nomination.

Mr Gallagher said, if elected to the role, he would force through changes to ensure party leaders meet once a week, and prevent ministers from sending junior ministers to answer Dáil questions on their behalf — sometimes reading directly from pre-prepared statements.

Fianna Fáil will decide on who will be their candidate at a 3pm meeting on Monday, a situation one TD joked afterwards contradicts the party’s new-found interest in reform and openness as it will not allow all names to go forward to the full Dáil vote.

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