Fianna Fáil backbenchers will be asked today to join a new committee aimed at forcing Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and the Cabinet to heed their concerns, writes Mark Hennessy, Political Correspondent
Sixteen backbenchers, including a number of Oireachtas committee chairmen, have already signed a letter supporting the establishment of the group, based on the British Conservative Party's 1922 group.
Delicate negotiations have been under way in secret for weeks among a group of disgruntled backbenchers without the knowledge of the Taoiseach.
TDs will receive a letter shortly after lunchtime today asking them to attend a meeting in the Fianna Fáil rooms in Leinster House next Tuesday at 8.30pm.
The letter has so far been signed by Sligo Leitrim TD Jimmy Devins, Dublin North West TD Pat Carey, Laois Offaly's John Maloney, Dún Laoghaire's Barry Andrews, Meath's Johnny Brady, Carlow Kilkenny TD John McGuinness, Cork North Central TD Noel O'Flynn, Cork North West's Michael Moynihan, Donegal North East's Cecelia Keaveney and Dublin North's Jim Glennon.
The committee is being established following mounting annoyance about the conduct of parliamentary party meetings during the life of the present Government.
The discontented TDs believe that backbenchers' opinions would be given greater weight by the Government in the run-up to the next election if the committee is created. The letter will be circulated by e-mail today to all TDs in the Fianna Fáil Parliamentary Party - most of whom are not so far aware of the plans.
Organisers hope the presence of so many Oireachtas committee chairmen such as Johnny Brady will encourage many to attend next Tuesday's meeting.