Fianna Fail is down to just 10 percent in the latest opinion polls – as deputy party leader Eamon O Cuiv threatens to lead a breakaway.
The former government Minister, currently embroiled in a bitter row with leader Micheal Martin, makes the threat in a TV programme to be broadcast on Tuesday.
O Cuiv, grandson of FF founder Eamonn De Valera, makes the startling claim that a new party could be formed in the TV3 documentary The Rise and Fall of Fianna Fail.
“I think we served the country well. I believe that market, that view, that idea that Fianna Fail represented has to be in Irish politics,” claims O Cuiv.
“And if it’s not possible to do it under the name Fianna Fail, well, then we’ll have to do it under some other name - but the ideal lives on and that’s the important thing.”
The TV documentary will be aired after a Fianna Fail parliamentary party on Tuesday designed to make a final decision on the party’s approach to the Presidential election.
The FF leader and O Cuiv are at loggerheads over the issue with Martin adamant that the party should have nothing to do with next month’s poll.
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Read more:
David Norris to approach Fianna Fail for Presidential election support
Fianna Fail meeting on Presidential race becomes ‘a complete bitch fest’
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The latest Sunday Independent poll, which has FF at just 10 percent support, has suggested the party should back controversial senator David Norris in his bid to become President.
O Cuiv, who believes the party should contest the election, is set for another showdown with Martin if his TV comments are anything to go by.
He also told TV3: “Is Fianna Fail so damaged by the label of corruption, by the label of big business, builders and bankers - a lot of which has nothing to do with the membership of the Fianna Fail I know - that it is a really seriously damaged brand?
“You know, the thought does enter my mind - are we going to be forever damaged by the actions of the few? If that were so, maybe we have to look at a new way forward for the very, very same ideals.”
Former senator Eoghan Harris believes Fianna Fail should now support Norris in his latest bid to secure a nomination for the Presidential election.
“Fianna Fail have nothing to lose by backing David Norris, they have the world to gain,” said Harris on Irish radio.
“Fianna Fail is clinically insane if they don’t back David Norris.”
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.johnymac60 | Sep 19, 2011, 03:10 PM EDT
Well, then. Get on with it. None of these stupid "Threats" necessary.
sirpeter | Sep 19, 2011, 12:02 PM EDT
liathroidí..no S
sirpeter | Sep 19, 2011, 12:00 PM EDT
I take it he meant Dog balls of it.
ellenfromcork | Sep 19, 2011, 10:22 AM EDT
"madra liathroidis"-- what's the translation of that?
gobdawpaddy | Sep 19, 2011, 04:25 AM EDT
As Towngate observes, 'they got the country ~ and broke it'. Fianna Fail, through a combination of corruption, incompetence and the virus of gombeenism that is passed on from generation to generation in that party, have destroyed Ireland. The backward morons that blindly supported them over the past fourteen years in particular, share equal blame for Ireland's demise. I wish Ireland's 'new' government the best (so far, they appear to be on the right track). As was pointed out in one of yesterday's newpapers, Fianna fail's greatest nightmare at the moment is the potential photograph of Enda, Eammon and Michael at Dublin airport waving goodbye to the representatives of the IMF/EU and ECB sometime over the next 4 years. Fianna Fail had it all for most of the past 21 years and made a madra's liathroidis of it.
sirpeter | Sep 18, 2011, 08:43 PM EDT
It won't be long now before we have a Sinn Fein/FF government.It's almost like FF are actually self-destructing on purpose making room for Sinn Fein.Arthur Griffith will be delighted that they are all buddy buddies again.The next general election will be very interesting.If FG mess up we could see Gerry as Taoiseach.They say a week in politics is along time.This is all very good news indeed.
Towngate | Sep 18, 2011, 01:51 PM EDT
The sins of the grandfathers will be visited on the grandsons ~ whatever name they choose to call them! They got the country ~ and broke it!
Ernesider | Sep 18, 2011, 01:13 PM EDT
... well I might reconsider my view of the Fianna Failers if they back David. But from boyhood my view of them was slightly, and very slightly mind you, a little less than disgusted than the Fianna Gaelers. We had awful choices then.