'Micheál Martin takes zero notice of what Fianna Fáil backbenchers say': TD calls for reform
James Cox
Taoiseach Micheál Martin "takes zero notice of what Fianna Fáil backbenchers say", according to a TD.
In an interview with BreakingNews.ie, Cork East TD James O'Connor said: "Micheál Martin takes zero notice of what Fianna Fáil backbenchers say, that is my personal position, he knows I think that."
One of the youngest TDs in government at 28, Mr O'Connor is not afraid of criticising party leadership and he said "my own personal view is that Fianna Fáil needs to change how it does business".
While the review into Jim Gavin's disastrous presidential campaign is now done and dusted, Mr O'Connor said there is still "dismay" within the party about how it played out.
Looking forward, he described a frustration among backbench TDs at how the party leadership currently conducts its business.
Micheál Martin takes zero notice of what Fianna Fáil backbenchers say.
"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.
"That's not a triangle that's working properly. A big focus for this year needs to be around how the decision makers at a Cabinet level in Fianna Fáil actually view their backbenchers and take what they say with a lot more gravity and seriousness.
"If we don't do that, Fianna Fáil is going to be in serious trouble at the next general election.
"Micheál Martin takes zero notice of what Fianna Fáil backbenchers say; that is my personal position, he knows I think that."
Referring to Ryanair chief executive Michael O'Leary's recent criticism of the Taoiseach over the Dublin Airport passenger cap, Mr O'Connor cited comments by Transport Minister Darragh O'Brien as an example of how civil servants "have become the real decision makers".
Mr O'Brien expressed his view that there should be no cap on passengers at the airport at all, adding that the proposals to scrap the passenger cap have been opposed by senior civil servants.
"Departmental officials are not supposed to do that; it's a democratically elected Dáil, which in turn elects the Taoiseach, who then appoints the Cabinet of the country. They are supposed to be the decision makers... not secretary generals, assistant secretary generals, or principal officers in departments. Unfortunately, that's not what's happening.
"The power accumulated in the civil service and state agencies needs to be looked at; these are all consequences of the Moriarty Tribunal and how we needed to clean up politics in Ireland, but in a lot of cases, what's happened is it has become completely counterintuitive.
"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.
"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.
"The accountability standards for politicians are not being met in the public service."
Mr O'Connor insisted he has no "ill will" towards the Taoiseach, but reiterated his view that backbench TDs have seen their influence "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.
"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.
"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."
'Substantial political reform'
Mr O'Connor said "substantial political reform" is needed in how ministerial departments work.
"I think how ministerial offices are viewed by senior civil servants is at a crisis point," he added.
"I think that the Taoiseach's inertia around the seepage from the Cabinet's executive authority vs that of state agencies is flawed."
Mr O'Connor, who is chairman of the Oireachtas Enterprise, Tourism and Employment Committee, also said he would like to see 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. What happened with Darragh O'Brien compounds this; it's just fact."
He said there is 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.
"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.
"There are some really good voices in Cabinet, I am really impressed with Jim O'Callaghan, with Dara Calleary, how helpful and approachable the two of them are.
"Looking at Fine Gael, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill is doing great work in the Department of Health, Peter Burke in Enterprise."
He suggested a delivery unit could be used in the Department of the Taoiseach, adding that "delivery is what we need, I'm sick of reviews".
"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.
"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."
