Taoiseach should ‘put down a vote of confidence in himself’, says Pat ‘The Cope’

Long-term Donegal and Fianna Fáil TD, Pat ‘The Cope’ Gallagher, has called for Taoiseach Micheál Martin to “put down a vote of confidence in himself” to decide his future as the political party’s leader.

Gallagher TD was speaking following the publication of an eagerly awaited report detailing Jim Gavin’s Presidential campaign, in which it was revealed that the Taoiseach had been made aware of a potential issue between Mr Gavin and a former tenant before Mr Gavin was selected as Fianna Fáil’s Presidential candidate.

Gavin later dropped out of the Presidential race, won by Catherine Connolly, after it had been made public that a former tenant was owed more than €3,000 by Mr Gavin.

A meeting was held by Fianna Fáil members at Leinster House, discussing the findings of the report, including a campaign expenditure of €400,000.

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Gallagher TD said: “I did say at the meeting last night that this was not the end of all this. That we can not draw a line and move on.

“The decision by them has cost the party €400,000, and furthermore, had Jim Gavin got 12.5%, we would have recouped €250,000.

“The Taoiseach had also said that he would not be advocating for any individual at the party meeting some weeks ago, and within two days, he was advocating for the Fine Gael candidate and that there changed the whole dynamic.

“A lot of people who wanted to vote in accordance with the Taoiseach’s wishes voted, and I believe that if he had not interfered, if he had not advocated, we would have got the 12.5% and we would have recouped that.

“It is not the end, I believe. We will have discussions amongst members of the Parliamentary party in the new year.”

When discussing whether Micheál Martin should remain in his role as Taoiseach and Fianna Fáil leader, Gallagher TD commented: “If Micheál Martin is so confident that he should do that, then there is the way that Micheál Martin should put down a vote of confidence in himself and that should decide one way or the other.”