FINE GAEL last night indicated it would not take any internal measures over controversial remarks by outspoken TD John Deasy over the weekend.
Mr Deasy told a Young Fine Gael conference in Tramore, Co Waterford, on Saturday that the party remained “completely split” and the mood remained “ugly and nasty” even after the recent leadership debate. Mr Deasy said he was not trying to “have a go” or to undermine the leadership of Enda Kenny, but said people needed to be honest about the reality that confronted the party at present.
“People are trying to portray Fine Gael as unified after the heave but that’s not the case.”
He said: “There’s a deep split within the party, and I think it’s beyond repair.”
Mr Deasy’s comments met a cool response from delegates at the summer conference.
The other two Oireachtas members from Waterford, Maurice Cummins and Paudie Coffey, reacted strongly. In speeches delivered later at the conference, both angrily denounced Mr Deasy’s contributions.
Mr Kenny, who arrived at the conference later, made no reference to Mr Deasy’s remarks in an address that largely focused on economic matters.
A spokesman for Fine Gael said last night that no response was being contemplated by the party to the criticism.
Mr Deasy has a long history of outspokenness within the party. Though he made no public comment he backed Richard Bruton during the recent leadership battle.
Mr Deasy expressed alarm about his party’s standing in recent opinion polls.
“The party is not unified and we still have to address the main issue – that we haven’t made great gains with the electorate despite the unpopularity of the Government.”
He said the Labour Party appeared to be the main beneficiary of public discontent and that was “a key issue” for Fine Gael.
He declined to comment on the party leadership, saying that “as a democrat” he “fully” accepted the result which saw Mr Kenny’s leadership winning the backing of TDs, Senators and MEPs.