Apprehension grows in Fianna Fáil ahead of Government housing plan launch

Part members were told: 'The intention at this stage (weather dependent) will be to launch the plan at a live construction site — and will involve the Taoiseach and Tánaiste as it’s an all-of-government document.' Picture: Sam Boal/Collins Photos

An underwhelming housing plan will create another “unmerciful problem” in Fianna Fáil as tensions continue to simmer ahead of this evening’s parliamentary party meeting.

The review into the party’s beleaguered presidential election is not on the agenda for the meeting, despite expectations that it would be completed today.

Fianna Fáil’s candidate Jim Gavin pulled out of the presidential election race after it emerged that he had not told the party about his failure to repay rent overpayments to a tenant.

Chief whip Mary Butler confirmed over the weekend that the review, which was expected to be completed on Wednesday, “may take longer than originally planned”.

Ahead of the launch of the Government’s new housing plan tomorrow, apprehension is already growing within the party that the plan will be lacklustre.

“The [review] has to be discussed [at the parliamentary party meeting], but there is going to be another conversation around delivery,” one TD said.

"If this housing plan isn’t up to scratch, there is going to be an unmerciful problem."

When it was put to one Fianna Fáil TD that expectations about the new housing plan were being dampened amid warnings that there may not be much in the plan, they quipped: “We are looking for the messiah, and we are getting Mary Magdalene”.

There will be a second Fianna Fáil parliamentary party meeting on Thursday morning to discuss the new housing plan. However, TDs lamented that the briefing is coming after the plan is being launched and not before, and that the party was not allowed to feed into the plans.

“On Thursday morning, just before the plan is launched, you will all receive a copy of the plan to your Oireachtas emails, along with key speaking points to jump off for your own understanding as well as media opportunities,” the party was told.

“The intention at this stage (weather dependent) will be to launch the plan at a live construction site — and will involve the Taoiseach and Tánaiste as it’s an all-of-government document.”

Fianna Fáil politicians have also expressed frustration that they have still not been officially told by the party that the review of the presidential election has been delayed. It is not on the agenda for Wednesday’s meeting.

One TD joked that Ms Butler asked the parliamentary party meeting last week if they believed everything that journalists say.

We are reading in the papers that it is going to be delayed. But we haven’t been given an update.

“This is symptomatic of the entire problem.”

One TD said it was “madness” that the review was not on the agenda, noting that it should be at least acknowledged, as it was meant to be published today.

“We need answers and to draw a line under it. I know that people are interested, fair enough."