The Taoiseach's most trusted adviser, Dr Martin Mansergh, is carrying out an "issues audit" of Fianna Fail backbenchers following three months of controversy over the Hugh O'Flaherty affair.
Dr Mansergh spent the last week meeting TDs one-to-one in advance of Fianna Fail's special two-day meeting in Kilkenny.
He is seeking backbenchers' views on how the party can best move forward after the European Investment Bank debacle and tribunal revelations. He is also discussing with TDs how they see the party performing in their constituencies in the next election.
He had some frank discussions with backbenchers, many of whom are concerned the Hugh O'Flaherty affair has damaged the party long term.
A senior party source told The Irish Times Dr Mansergh would report back to the Taoiseach on the meetings with TDs. "He will essentially be putting together an issues audit. It is important the party starts to move on after the summer we have had."
Some disquiet was expressed by a handful of TDs yesterday that one of the central figures in the Hugh O'Flaherty affair, the Minister for Finance, will not be in Kilkenny for the party's special think-in, which starts tomorrow . Mr McCreevy will be in Prague attending a meeting of the World Bank.
"It would be no harm at all if Mr McCreevy was present to hear some tough talking," one TD commented last night.
A party source stressed the meeting would not be spent looking back at how Fianna Fail got the O'Flaherty nomination so badly wrong. "We got it wrong, we know we got it wrong, and there is not point in looking back all the time. It is important we start to move forward. We have reached half-time and we are a goal down. We have to make up the deficit."
Sources are delighted issues other than O'Flaherty have been dominating the news in the last week, mainly the debate about Europe and the abortion issue. "These are the real issues that should be concerning us."
The meeting and sessions with Dr Mansergh are part of a strategy to "politically proof" issues in future. One source said there was a realisation that more consultation was required between the party hierarchy and TDs.
The view is that the next big test for the party will be the December Budget.
"Ironically, it should be an easy Budget because there is so much money around. But because of inflation this will be a very tough Budget. We will have to get the balance right."
One issue some TDs plan to bring up in Kilkenny is the lack of communication between backbenchers and ministers. This has been a cause of concern for the Taoiseach.