FIANNA FÁIL BACKBENCHERS are to be given more influence in government decision making, including in the runup to the Budget later this year.

The Taoiseach outlined several measures that would see the changing of the party’s structures at Fianna Fáil’s parliamentary party meeting yesterday evening.

It follows unrest amongst backbenchers over the Taoiseach and senior party figures’ handling of the fuel protests, which saw several backbench figures come forward to say they were unhappy with the party structure and felt they were not being listened to. 

The party’s three youngest TDs said in an open letter they are unhappy with senior members expecting them to explain “government difficulties” to their constituents. 

Yesterday, Micheál Martin said the party’s finance spokesperson, TD Shay Brennan, has been asked to establish structures to all backbenchers to feed ideas into the budget preparation process. They would also work with Public Expenditure Minister Jack Chambers in this regard.

Martin mentioned the model for the parliamentary party’s housing committee as a good example for engagement. 

He asked TD John Lahart to lead a group on the issue of social partnership to engage with trade unions, employers and other representative organisations.

Martin also appointed TD Peter ‘Chap’ Cleere to establish a similar group on agriculture and rural Ireland. This group would address issues such as planning guidelines and the distribution of land for renewables, among others.

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Despite recent troubles within the party, stemming back to Jim Gavin’s failed presidential run, Martin said Fianna Fáil’s wider membership have been particularly active given recent centenary events.

It’s understood he told the parliamentary party yesterday: “None of us are perfect,” but, “there is always space for all of us to do better and to improve how we serve the people that elected us.”