Fine Gael TD unleashes 'furious' criticism at parliamentary party meeting

The tense meeting was the first to take place since Simon Harris became Fine Gael party leader

Patrick O'Donovan, the new Minister for Further and Higher Education, was on the receiving end of some stinging criticism at the meeting. 

One of Fine Gael's most experienced TDs has "launched a scud missile" at one of its new ministers in a scathing contribution in a private party meeting.

Multiple sources have described Kildare North TD Bernard Durkan's contribution during Simon Harris's first parliamentary party meeting as Taoiseach as "furious", "scathing" and "apoplectic", with Limerick TD Patrick O'Donovan the target of his frustrations.

Mr Durkan told the meeting that he had made representations to Mr O'Donovan on 19 occasions about Castletown House in his constituency, where issues about public access have resulted in what has been described as a "Mexican standoff".

Bernard Durkan hit out at Patrick O'Donovan during the meeting.

However, Mr Durkan told the meeting that Mr O'Donovan never responded to him in his role as OPW minister. He told the meeting that this was the first time that this had ever happened in his 40-plus years in the Dáil. Sources said he told the meeting that a minister has "never not come into the Dáil to answer a query" in a contribution that one source said was "a scud missile at (Mr O'Donovan)".

"Bernard seemed hurt, more than anything," one source said.

Sources indicated that Mr O'Donovan did not respond to Mr Durkan's comments. 

Mr O'Donovan was elevated to a senior cabinet position by Mr Harris on Tuesday, where he will take on the role of Further and Higher Education Minister. Kieran O'Donnell was appointed to take on the role of OPW minister.

The parliamentary party has not met since Mr Harris's election as leader, which meant that Wednesday's meeting was the first opportunity for members to raise the Government's disastrous referendum campaigns. 

Senator Sean Kyne is understood to have "blasted" the cabinet for the campaign, while Tipperary-based senator Garret Ahearn raised the leaking of the Attorney General's advice on the referendum to The Ditch website in the days leading up to the referenda. Cork-based senator Tim Lombard told the meeting that farmers must be supported by having the deadline for nitrates derogations pushed back.