Waterford TD and Minister of State for Mental Health & Older People, Mary Butler TD, says there will be no leadership challenge against the Taoiseach at the Fianna Fail party's think-in in Cavan this week.
Party members are in Cavan today and tomorrow. Deputy Butler sat on the committee of TDs which authored the recent report on the party's electoral failures in recent years.
Almost 3,000 FF members contributed to the report.
The report found members felt the party had no clear identity. Younger members in particular were critical about engagement with voters on social media during the general election.
Minister Butler, says a lot of members are unhappy with a "negative narrative" being portrayed by some members of the parliamentary party.
"We wash our dirty linen in public at times. Sometimes, some really really big announcements can be overshadowed by issues which have arisen within the party."
Deputy Butler believes the Taoiseach's leadership will not be called into question. She says many of the fellow TDs she has spoken with have given Micheal Martin their full backing.
"I absolutely don't expect a leadership challenge. I've spoken to many of my colleagues. I could not see that happening. I think members of the parliamentary party, TDs and senators alike, want the opportunity to have their say. We haven't been able to do that because of the format of meetings, on Zoom. It's quite difficult. People want the opportunity to have their say. They have concerns. People are concerned with the direction of the party in the past few years - and they're entitled to that."
The Taoiseach has come under pressure this week as the government were criticised for their handling of the Katherine Zappone controversy. Sinn Fein have stated that they will table a motion of no confidence in the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Simon Coveney. That's if Taoiseach Micheal Martin does not remove him from office for 'lobbying' Zappone for a UN Special Envoy role.
