Taoiseach to ministers: 'Listen to backbenchers' amid youthful disquiet

Taoiseach Micheal Martin said there is “always space for all of us to do better and to improve how we serve the people that elected us”. Picture: Brian Lawless/PA Wire

Taoiseach Micheál Martin told his parliamentary party that “nobody is perfect”, as he instructed ministers to start engaging with their backbench colleagues more.

During a meeting of the parliamentary party, three young TDs who last week warned that the “social contract” between Fianna Fáil and the younger generation was “strained”, doubled down on their concerns.

Albert Dolan, James O’Connor, and Ryan O’Meara issued the statement in the wake of this month’s fuel protests.

They wrote: “We must face [the] reality that the social contract is strained to breaking point.”

The Taoiseach last week called the three young men – all in their late 20s and 30s – into his office in Government Buildings to discuss their concerns in a meeting that lasted nearly three hours.

The trio are all understood to have addressed the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party meeting on Tuesday.

The Irish Examiner understands that Mr O’Connor told the meeting that, despite media reports, they had not received a “bollicking” from Mr Martin. He insisted they had a “constructive discussion”, and it is understood that the Taoiseach did not disagree.

Mr O’Connor is said to have told the meeting that there is a growing danger of “siloed” political discussion, especially on social media platforms, and that Fianna Fáil must be able to communicate better.

It is understood that, rather than defending issuing the statement, the three young TDs once again expressed concern about connecting with the younger generation and their peers who have moved abroad and want to come home.

The meeting heard concerns from the TDs that they want to ensure that Fianna Fáil is still relevant in the coming decades.

It is understood that several TDs backed up their younger colleagues.

Separately, several TDs said that Mr O’Connor left the room when party whip Paul McAuliffe was making a contribution. It is understood that the Cork East TD interjected to a point Mr McAuliffe made before making his exit.

It is understood that several TDs pushed back against comments the Taoiseach had made about getting a positive response around the country.

He was told that while he may feel like he is getting a good response, that is not the message that they are getting in their constituencies.

The Taoiseach told the meeting that he had spoken to ministers to ensure there is more regular engagement with the parliamentary party in the preparation of the forthcoming budget.

He noted “none of us are perfect” and that there is “always space for all of us to do better and to improve how we serve the people that elected us”.

One minister accepted there was significant feedback from backbench TDs about the necessity to feed in ideas to the Government around the budget.

Shay Brennan, the Dublin Rathdown TD, would be appointed as the party’s liaison over the budget, with backbenchers to feed through policy proposals which would be provided to Government ministers.

One backbencher said the move to give the parliamentary party more input into the budget had “disarmed” TDs looking to oust the Taoiseach.

“He’s put the power back into the parliamentary party,” they said.

One source described a “tiredness” in the parliamentary party after the ructions last week, while adding that Mr Martin had retaken control after the backbench unrest.

However, after the meeting one TD said his remarks shifted the blame away from himself and back onto the wider party.

“It makes it about us,” they said.

While rumours swirled around Leinster House last week that a heave against the Taoiseach was imminent in Fianna Fáil, this has now abated.

Several TDs suggested that they now believe that Mr Martin will resign as leader at Christmas time or early in 2027.

Senior Fianna Fáil sources told the Irish Examiner that while advances were made to potential leadership contenders by grassroots members and some in the parliamentary party last weekend, these advances were shot down.

Those in the mix to replace Mr Martin as Fianna Fáil leader include justice minister Jim O’Callaghan, social protection minister Dara Calleary, energy minister Darragh O’Brien, and public expenditure minister Jack Chambers.