Fianna Fáil veteran Éamon Ó Cuív has blasted Taoiseach Micheál Martin’s decision to back a presidential candidate from outside party ranks, while a city councillor revealed growing demand for internal party reform.
Speaking in the aftermath of Jim Gavin’s surprise decision to pull out of the three-horse race last Sunday – leaving Heather Humphreys and Catherine Connolly still running – Conamara-based Ó Cuív publicly weighed in on the fractious debate currently roiling Fianna Fáil.
At the same time, Galway City Councillor Alan Cheevers (FF ) says there is growing momentum amongst ordinary Fianna Fáil supporters to reform how their party makes decisions at all levels.
“Party members are very upset. We need an ard fheis before Christmas to give an opportunity to members, councillors, and everyone, to have an open debate on all outstanding issues, including a post mortem on the [presidential election],” he said.
Gavin, a highly successful Dublin GAA manager, but political novice, withdrew his candidacy for Áras an Uachtaráin in response to revelations about a debt to a former tenant, apparently still unpaid after 16 years.
“I cannot understand why we had to go outside the party for a candidate. Somebody already in politics would much more likely have had any issues that might arise raised, before they ever became a [presidential] candidate,” said Ó Cuív. “This needed someone with a lot of political experience. The presidency is the most political job – although not party political or partisan – but it is the highest job in the land, and it needs someone of vast experience,” he explained.
Speaking to the Advertiser, Fianna Fáil’s former deputy leader said his party’s current leadership’s decision not to poll rank-and-file members on potential candidates was a mistake, and that internal candidate nomination was pursued opaquely. In September, a vote confined to only 71 parliamentary party members selected Gavin over Cork-based MEP, Billy Kelleher.
Selection politics
In 2012, the Fianna Fáil ard fheis adopted a ‘one member, one vote’ process for selecting election candidates. It was widely expected to be implemented for this year’s selection.
“Obviously, I have a lot of sympathy personally for Jim Gavin, finding himself in this situation, but it does point to a number of issues… the most important of which is: why [Fianna Fáil’s HQ] decided to take selecting candidates away from the membership. This was not flagged well in advance, and there wasn’t enough time for [potential] candidates to make their cases, as it was all done right at the last minute,” said Ó Cuív.
The last time Fianna Fáil selected a presidential candidate was in 1997, when non-politician Mary McAleese was chosen over former taoiseach Albert Reynolds, and former European commissioner, Michael O’Kennedy.
Ó Cuív dismissed speculation that he was disappointed not to have an opportunity to throw his hat in the presidential ring for the premiership his grandfather, Fianna Fáil’s founder Éamon de Valera, held from 1959 to 1973.
“No. I am getting on with my life,” said 75-year-old Ó Cuív, who – since 1989 – has served variously as a senator, TD and government minister. He retired from electoral politics in 2024.
Asked whether broadcaster Gráinne Seoige, who ran for Fianna Fáil in Galway West in last year’s general election, would have made a better non-politician selection, Ó Cuív answered: “No”.
Meanwhile, Galway City Councillor, Alan Cheevers (FF ), has called for a special ard fheis to discuss party reform.
“There is party consensus, but the whole thing is a shit-show, is what I think myself. I think what is necessary is [to] do a root and branch review. We have to look at headquarters, we have to look at the whole process of how we pick candidates, and look at everything else too,” urged Cheevers.
