MacSharry Said: "The next Fianna Fáil leader must be from Dublin"

IRELAND: Deputy MacSharry resigned from the party ten months ago – insisting party leader Micheál Martin was running a ‘one-man show’ and refusing to let members join in decision making.

In recent days, several party backbenchers have called for Mr Martin to step down as party leader when the office of Taoiseach reverts to Fine Gael in December.

MacSharry told Newstalk: “My personal view is, with a party in the position Fianna Fáil is in; with some 53 seats in the Greater Dublin Area, I think the leader must come from Dublin.

“That brings the choice to Jim O’Callaghan, to Darragh O’Brien and perhaps as a dark horse, but he might decide it is for later in his career, Jack Chambers. 

"I'd say that's where the leader is probably going to come from.

"I believe it would have to come from the Greater Dublin Area, but if you were to emanate further out from Dublin from there, then Barry Cowan in the Midlands."

The Taoiseach "doesn't come across as dictatorial," observed presenter Pat Kenny, to which Mr. MacSharry retorted, "No, he hides it very well indeed."

“Unfortunately, as somebody who has been on his front bench, as somebody who knows him for 32 years and as somebody who was absolutely committed to his elevation to Taoiseach and indeed voted for him for that role, sadly it is a one-man show.

"Fianna Fáil legislative policy is decided by focus groups under his control through FF headquarters and not, regrettably, from the enormous talent that is inside the ranks of the FF frontbenchers," the statement reads.