Taoiseach Micheál Martin has moved to scotch suggestions that Mattie McGrath could rejoin the Fianna Fáil party – but the pair did hold talks about the Tipperary South TD’s potential support for the Government.
A spokesman for Mr Martin said on Sunday that “there is no truth in those reports” after a Sunday newspaper outlined an approach to Mr McGrath by Fianna Fáil Ministers.
The Irish Mail on Sunday outlined that Mr McGrath, who lost the Fianna Fáil whip 15 years ago and has been re-elected as a TD four times since, had been approached about a potential reunion following his unexpected support for Mr Martin in the vote for Taoiseach last month.
A second Fianna Fáil source described the suggestion that Mr McGrath could be on his way back to the party as “fantasy”.
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However, it is understood the Taoiseach did meet Mr McGrath and Independent TD for Offaly Carol Nolan to ask them for their support when possible over the course of the Government.
Mr McGrath and Ms Nolan are said to have outlined what they felt should be addressed by the incoming Government in general terms.
Mr Martin’s spokesman did not reply to queries specifically on the meeting on Sunday. A Fianna Fáil source indicated there was no mention of joining the party during the discussion.
Efforts to contact Mr McGrath and Ms Nolan on Sunday were unsuccessful.
Mr McGrath sparked surprise among commentators and politicians when he voted for Mr Martin as Taoiseach. He has clashed with government parties in the recent past, and Mr Martin criticised a speech that the Tipperary South TD made in December 2022 which referenced the World Economic Forum and “powerful globalist forces who are having a huge impact on the way our country is being run”.
Mr McGrath said in his speech that Klaus Schwab, who leads the WEF, had propagated ideas that he felt were the same as the fascism of Benito Mussolini.
“This all might sound like some sort of conspiracy and I wish it was, but it is not,” Mr McGrath told the Dáil at the time.
In an interview afterwards in The Irish Times, Mr Martin said Mr McGrath had read this contribution “from a script” and that “someone is advising the rural group”.
Mr Martin said he felt far-right ideologues were “going to try and penetrate groups in our parliament and get certain ideas across and we have to be vigilant about that”.
Mr McGrath was initially elected as a Fianna Fáil TD, but lost the party whip after voting against a law to outlaw stag hunting in 2010, and he then left the party before the general election which took place the following year.
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