Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin has said the “sniping” within Fianna Fáil over the past ten months has had a “destabilising” and “damaging” effect on the party.
And he said with the party at 14 per cent in the opinion polls there has been an “absence of direction” in terms of preparing for the general election.
Last night Mr Martin announced his decision to vote against the Taoiseach in a confidence motion at tomorrow’s meeting of the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party.
He said he is aware of other members of the party who will not support the motion. Although to date no other senior ministers have come out to support his position Mr Martin also said some Cabinet ministers have similar views.
Speaking to RTÉ radio today, Mr Martin said the net issue is about who can lead an "effective, organised and vibrant [election] campaign" and then rebuild the party.
“Clearly there has been in terms of the preparation for the next number of months an absence of direction, perhaps too much reaction and not enough direction in terms of getting things ready," he said.
“The writing was on the wall certainly by the middle of this year - even if the Greens hadn’t made their decision [to pull out of Government] - that we’re heading into very turbulent waters, therefore it would have made sense to prepare in a more coordinated way."
Mr Martin said it is difficult to quantify what effect a new leader would have upon the party but it would “put fire in the belly of the organisation and would lift the party membership” leading to a “far more vigorous [election] campaign”.
Mr Martin also denied he is after the “spoils of office” adding should Mr Cowen be defeated in tomorrow’s Fianna Fáíl parliamentary party meeting vote he would continue to be Taoiseach.
He said it would not be “feasible” for the any new party leader to become Taoiseach as there are only two months remaining in the Government. “There would be a contest for the party leadership…that party leader would take the party through the election campaign and Mr Cowen would carry on as Taoiseach.”
Mr Martin denied he was involved in any heave against Mr Cowen. “There may have been other moves by others afoot but it’s well-known that prior to Christmas I was not sounding out people in terms of a heave, I never have been.”
And the Minister added that his public stance on the issue is “healthier than all of the back-sniping and behind closed doors stuff that was going on”.