Taoiseach Micheál Martin “doesn’t listen at all to Fianna Fáil backbenchers,” according to a TD.
In an interview with The Mirror, Cork East TD James O’Connor stated: “Micheál Martin takes zero notice of what Fianna Fáil backbenchers say, that is my personal position, he knows I think that,” reports Breaking News.
At just 28 years old, one of the youngest TDs in government, Mr O’Connor is not afraid to openly criticize party leadership. He added, “My own personal view is that Fianna Fáil needs to change how it does business,” reports Breaking News.
While the review into Jim Gavin’s unsuccessful presidential campaign is now concluded, Mr O’Connor said there is still “dismay” within the party about how the situation was handled.
He highlighted a growing frustration among backbench TDs regarding the party leadership’s current approach, reports Breaking News.
“My own personal view is Fianna Fáil needs to change how it does business. There’s a level of difference between the Taoiseach’s office and the team around him; you also have a team in Fianna Fáil headquarters in Mount Street… then you have the backbenchers,” he explained, reports Breaking News.
“That’s not a triangle that’s working properly. A big focus for this year needs to be how the decision-makers at a Cabinet level in Fianna Fáil actually view their backbenchers and take what they say with more gravity and seriousness,” reports Breaking News.
“If we don’t do that, Fianna Fáil is going to be in serious trouble at the next general election,” he warned, reports Breaking News.
Mr O’Connor further criticized Taoiseach Martin for not considering the views of Fianna Fáil backbenchers, reiterating, “Micheál Martin takes zero notice of what Fianna Fáil backbenchers say; that is my personal position, he knows I think that,” reports Breaking News.
Regarding Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary’s recent criticism of the Taoiseach over the Dublin Airport passenger cap, Mr O’Connor pointed to comments from Transport Minister Darragh O’Brien as an example of how civil servants “have become the real decision-makers.”
Mr O’Brien had stated there should be no cap on passengers at the airport, noting that senior civil servants opposed proposals to remove the cap.
“Departmental officials are not supposed to do that; it’s a democratically elected Dáil, which elects the Taoiseach, who then appoints the Cabinet of the country. They should be the decision-makers… not secretary generals, assistant secretary generals, or principal officers in departments. Unfortunately, that’s not what’s happening,” said Mr O’Connor, reports Breaking News.
He further criticized the accumulation of power in the civil service and state agencies, drawing attention to the consequences of the Moriarty Tribunal and efforts to clean up Irish politics.
“Irish Water is a calamity in terms of its output. The water outages in my constituency have been dreadful, and there’s nobody within Irish Water to engage with TDs in a meaningful way,” he said, reports Breaking News.
“In Ireland, if you do not like your TD, every four or five years, a general election occurs, and our names go before the public. But those who go into state agencies, senior civil servants, a lot do very well for themselves with no performance,” he added, reports Breaking News.
“The accountability standards for politicians are not being met in the public service,” he stated, reports Breaking News.
Mr O’Connor emphasized that he harbors no “ill will” toward the Taoiseach but reiterated his concerns about how the influence of backbench TDs has been “marginalised.”
“Micheál Martin’s leadership of Fianna Fáil is cemented. I do not bear any ill will to the Taoiseach. We are from the same county. I started my career in Micheál Martin’s office. He’s the reason I joined Fianna Fáil,” he explained, reports Breaking News.
“However, I have distinct concerns as a member of the Oireachtas about how our input is accounted for: it’s being marginalised all of the time. As far as I’m concerned, for the duration of the time he has served as leader, which is second only to Éamon de Valera, the power of Oireachtas members has shrunk,” he said, reports Breaking News.
“The problem with that is members of the public expect their TDs and senators to be able to deliver for them on the issues of the day, concerns they come to us with,” he added, reports Breaking News.
Mr O’Connor called for “substantial political reform” in the functioning of ministerial departments.
“I think how ministerial offices are viewed by senior civil servants is at a crisis point,” he said.
“I think that the Taoiseach’s inertia around the seepage from the Cabinet’s executive authority vs that of state agencies is flawed,” he continued, reports Breaking News.
As Chairman of the Oireachtas Enterprise, Tourism, and Employment Committee, Mr O’Connor also expressed a desire for fewer Oireachtas committees.
“A lot of the issues in government are structural when you look at them, and there’s a need for that to be changed. If you’re a voter sitting at home looking at record-high energy bills, the cost of putting your children through higher education, and trying to become a homeowner, these issues haven’t stacked up on each other for one reason, but a lot of it is down to the political problem in Ireland, where the civil service has grown into something that, quite frankly, is undemocratic,” he said, reports Breaking News.
He praised the talents of a “very talented group” of new Fianna Fáil TDs in the Dáil, naming Ryan O’Meara, Albert Dolan, Peter Cleere, and Erin McGreehan.
“The parliamentary party I joined in 2020 had 38 TDs. We’ve grown that to 48, and I think the backbenchers feel there is a capacity to tackle issues, but there is a real frustration,” he said, reports Breaking News.
“I think the Cabinet as a collective, including Fine Gael, Fianna Fáil, and our Coalition partners, need to come to terms with the fact that they are not collectively performing, and that needs to be addressed urgently,” he added, reports Breaking News.
Mr O’Connor mentioned several Cabinet members he admired, including Jim O’Callaghan and Dara Calleary, as well as Fine Gael’s Jennifer Carroll MacNeill and Peter Burke, noting their excellent work.
He suggested a delivery unit be established within the Department of the Taoiseach, adding, “Delivery is what we need, I’m sick of reviews,” reports Breaking News.
“As far as I’m concerned, the Taoiseach’s time would be best served by bringing in people from departments on a regular basis, focusing on delivery,” he said, reports Breaking News.
“Micheál Martin needs to focus on legacy now, I think. To be Taoiseach is a privilege and an honour, but only lasts so long, so he needs to make his time count,” he concluded, reports Breaking News.
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