Several Fianna Fáil TDs yesterday described their frustration at their inability to influence Government policy and expressed strong support for a new body to allow them have an input into the next Fianna Fáil general election manifesto.
They complained commonly about the formulaic structure of weekly parliamentary party meetings - often attended by around 25 of the 125 eligible to go - and other heavily choreographed meetings billed as genuinely democratic political events. Members said they didn't see these occasions as genuine opportunities to have their views heard.
Several of the 16 who signed the letter to all backbenchers - whose circulation was abandoned yesterday after intervention by Taoiseach Bertie Ahern - emphasised that the new committee they hope to set up is to operate inside existing party structures, and does not represent the development of any "caucus" within the party.Noel O'Flynn
(Cork North Central)
Mr O'Flynn said the current parliamentary party meetings involved discussion of issues but no votes are taken. "Ministers decide whether to reject or accept what we say." He said TDs were hearing from voters in their constituencies that the Government was seen as disconnected from the people.
"They say there is a certain arrogance within the Government and that there should be a little humility at times. The most recent example was the way we handled the Supreme Court judgment [ striking down the law on sex offences against children]. I was on local radio apologising for the failures of the Government and the Oireachtas. A small bit of humility and concern at the early stages could have created a situation of calm."
Backbenchers who were connected to the public were the best people to advise the Government, he said. "The ultimate aim is to have policies in the manifesto which are attractive to the public and which would allow us to be re-elected. The poll trends are very worrying for us in the parliamentary party."
Proposals coming from a group of backbenchers would carry much more weight than those from individual members. "I hope the Government will embrace it," he said.
Michael Moynihan
(Cork North West)
Mr Moynihan said there was a huge gap between the Government and its backbenchers, and a feeling that issues raised by TDs were being left to one side by Ministers.
"As TDs, issues are being brought to our attention by the public, we raise them, and then they die a death. So we want to set up a coherent group where we debate the issues and we give a clear message to the leadership that this is what we want done."
John Moloney
(Laois/Offaly)
Mr Moloney said backbenchers would like to have a real role "rather than just come into parliamentary party meetings where policy is announced. We want to actually have an input."
He said the intention was not to be disruptive. "I am one of the most loyal of Fianna Fáil supporters and wouldn't go for anything disruptive."
He had known that signing the letter could create the impression of dissent. "But it might bring about some change to bring backbench TDs into policy formation and give them some input."
Pat Carey
(Dublin North West)
Mr Carey said the proposed new committee was not modelled on the Conservative Party's 1922 Committee, as had been reported yesterday, although other backbenchers said precisely the opposite.
"We have 12 to 14 policy committees trying to keep an eye on policy being formed by Government departments, and cumbersome parliamentary party meetings which are very reactive. This group is to engage and put forward policy ideas for the next election. We are not dissidents or disgruntled people.
"We want to discuss issues such as the direction of economic and social policy that we would like to see in the next administration. Talks on social partnership involved everyone except ourselves. Everybody has had their input. We need to state certain priorities. I personally would have in mind a left of centre social and economic policy, prioritising issues such as childcare, policies relating to older people, affordable and social housing."
Jim Glennon
(Dublin North)
Mr Glennon said the move did not reflect internal party dissent. There had not been secret negotiations going on, and the intention had always been to tell the party leadership about the plan yesterday, before the letter went out to all parliamentary party members.
When they heard on Thursday night that details of the plan were to appear in yesterday's Irish Times, they notified the Taoiseach's office.
"We are operating a system a lot of us feel is not operating to maximum efficiency. I believe we can come up with a more meaningful means of giving backbenchers an input within the existing system."
At the moment, members going to parliamentary party meetings often did not know what was to be discussed until they went in the door.
He stressed that any new committee would operate within the existing parliamentary party system. It would give backbenchers a forum to discuss issues when the Dáil and Seanad are in recess but Oireachtas committees continue to meet over the summer. "The idea is to help plot the party's policy and course for the next general election, and to influence the drawing up of policy in a more meaningful way."
John McGuinness
(Carlow/Kilkenny)
According to Mr McGuinness "the critical thing is we do not have an input into the direction the party is going. We have nothing except parliamentary party meetings and the yearly event at which we are told by Robert Putnam [ American author who addressed the annual parliamentary party meeting last year] or someone else what the direction is.
"I feel a frustration that when you articulate a certain point of view [ at parliamentary party meetings] you don't even get a fair hearing. The system doesn't allow it."
Backbenchers now want to influence the direction their party is taking. "There is a view that the existing system is not adequate enough to give us a direct input. Too many issues are debated that sound great, are well supported and then forgotten about."
He said the intention had not been to keep the plan secret from the Taoiseach, and that he would have been told about it today, as the letter was going out to all Fianna Fáil backbenchers inviting them to a meeting next Tuesday. "It was unfortunate that it was published in the newspaper before the letter went out, as it wasn't going to be a secret."
The new committee was, he said, modelled on the Conservative Party's 1922 Committee, a "tried and tested" system which gave backbenchers a voice.
Máire Hoctor
(Tipperary North)
Ms Hoctor confirmed to The Irish Times yesterday that she is one of the group involved in setting up the committee, writes Michael O'Regan. "Our aim is to have a think-in group, bringing forward concerns and influencing policy. We have become increasingly busier in our Dáil and constituency work. It is important that we remember what really matters: the issues in the constituencies which remain unresolved."
Ms Hoctor said that the move should not be seen as a criticism of the Taoiseach and Ministers. "We have been engaged in a very open relationship with them, and we want to capitalise on that."