MARC MACSHARRY’S READMITTANCE to the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party has hit a stumbling block this evening, with party whip Jack Chambers and the Taoiseach telling members that “an issue has arisen” in bringing him back into the fold.
It had been widely expected that Chambers would put down a motion this evening proposing MacSharry return to the party.
It is understood that there has been no accusation of wrongdoing on the part of McSharry. It is believed the issue raised is a matter pertaining to internal party politics.
Fianna Fáil sources have told The Journal that members were told there was an issue, with the Taoiseach asking TDs and senators to “trust the whip to deal with it”.
No further details were given to TDs about what the hold-up is but a number of TDs, including Barry Cowen and John McGuinness, spoke up and were highly critical of the Taoiseach in the manner in which he handled matters this evening.
One TD said it was “wrong” to deal with an internal party matter in this way, stating that the discussion was shut down before the Taoiseach had to leave the meeting early as he is travelling to Brussels this evening.
Another TD said: “I think it was badly handled by the boss” tonight. Another said it has only bolstered those who want Martin gone as party leader, indicating it was a “starting gun” for a leadership heave.
In recent weeks there have been calls for MacSharry to make a return.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin had a heated discussion with MacSharry last week over the process of how the TD could be readmitted to the party.
MacSharry is understood to have raised several other incidents in which Fianna Fáil TDs resigned the party whip and returned without having to reapply.
MacSharry resigned the Fianna Fáil whip last year following the Katherine Zappone controversy that erupted around Foreign Minister Simon Coveney.
The controversy, which stemmed from the appointment of Zappone as a UN Special Envoy, lead to a vote of no-confidence in the Foreign Affairs Minister.
In his resignation letter, MacSharry hit out at the Taoiseach and his leadership of the party, which is understood to have been an issue of discussion between the pair last week, with Martin taking issue with the comments.
MacSharry had said that Fianna Fáil party positioning and policy were being determined “in a fashion consistent with an undemocratic totalitarian regime”.
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