I would like to lead Fianna Fáil at some stage, says O’Callaghan

By Gráinne Ní Aodha, PA

Jim O’Callaghan has said he would like to be leader of Fianna Fáil “in the near future”, but not now.

The Justice Minister made the comments ahead of a Fianna Fáil parliamentary party meeting where the fallout from Jim Gavin’s withdrawal from the presidential race is to be discussed.

Party members have expressed their frustration at the handling of the candidate selection process, calling it “chaotic” and a “shambles”.

The party leadership have come under some criticism for putting pressure on parliamentarians to back Mr Gavin last month, with TD James O’Connor stating “extensive pressure” was put on TDs and Senators by party leader Micheál Martin and deputy leader Jack Chambers.

Asked if he would like to be leader of Fianna Fáil, Mr O’Callaghan said: “Yeah I would have thought so at some stage in the future, it’s not an immediate concern for me.

“I would have thought every member of the parliamentary party has an aspiration.”

I think it is a difficult time for Fianna Fail. We're in a presidential election, we don't have a candidate. You say Micheal Martin got it wrong - well, I got it wrong

He said he is “very pleased” with Mr Martin’s leadership and highlighted that in the last general election in November, Fianna Fáil emerged as the largest party in the Dáil.

“We’re in Government, leading the country, so I have no issue with respect to Micheál Martin’s leadership,” he said. “I think he’s doing a very good job as leader of Fianna Fail and indeed as Taoiseach.”

Asked if he was ruling out challenging Mr Martin in the near future, he said he was.

Asked if Fianna Fail should back one of the remaining presidential candidates, he said: “I’m not going to start telling people how they should vote.”

Mr O’Callaghan said he did not believe Mr Martin’s leadership was “badly damaged”, but said it was a “difficult time” for the party.

He said he and Mr Martin “got it wrong” on Mr Gavin’s candidacy.

“I don’t believe Micheál Martin is badly damaged by the Jim Gavin event,” Mr O’Callaghan said. “I think it is a difficult time for Fianna Fáil. We’re in a presidential election, we don’t have a candidate. You say Micheál Martin got it wrong – well, I got it wrong.

“I said at the time (when I backed Jim Gavin over Billy Kelleher) I could be wrong – I was wrong.”