Decision on readmittance of MacSharry to Fianna Fáil deferred again

The Fianna Fáil parliamentary party has been told that a complaint against Marc MacSharry must be resolved before a motion can be put down to readmit the Sligo-Leitrim TD.

The issue came up at a third meeting of the parliamentary party in a row on Wednesday night. Sources said that Laois-Offaly TD Barry Cowen told the meeting that he had reviewed party rules, procedures and processes but could not find a stipulation that someone could be excluded from the parliamentary party because of an ongoing investigation, and told the meeting that the complaint should not be joined together with the readmission process.

He was again supported by Senator Diarmuid Wilson, who seconded an initial attempt to readmit the TD at the start of this month.

Micheál Martin told the meeting that the issue could still be resolved with the engagement of both sides but that the complaint had to be dealt with. Chief whip Jack Chambers told the party that the complaint had to be resolved quickly. He said a motion can then be proposed to the parliamentary party at the earliest opportunity.

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In a letter earlier this week to Fianna Fáil officials, MacSharry accused the Taoiseach and Mr Chambers of being responsible for “a lack of confidentiality and fair procedures” in relation to an investigation into him.

He also sought to ensure that his readmittance to the parliamentary party would be discussed at Wednesday’s meeting.

He said he has “little confidence” in any informal process to address a complaint that was made about him in recent weeks by a councillor in his area - writing that he is likely to “seek a formal process of investigation of the complaint” to ensure “the proper confidentiality and fair procedures which have been absent heretofore”.

Fianna Fáil did not proceed with a motion to reinstate Mr MacSharry to the parliamentary party last week following a complaint from Sligo Cllr Donal Gilroy over messages sent by Mr MacSharry in a WhatsApp group for local party representatives, which the party is investigating.

The exchanges were linked to media appearances by Mr Gilroy regarding cardiac services in Sligo University Hospital.

In the letter sent to the party headquarters, general secretary, and parliamentary party chair on Monday, and copied to Mr Martin and chief whip Jack Chambers, Mr MacSharry said “I have not been afforded the confidentiality or fair procedures required by the party in respect of the complaint”

“This lack of confidentiality and fair procedures arises from public comments made by An Taoiseach, Micheál Martin and the Chief Whip, Minister Jack Chambers TD in respect of the complaint.”

He wrote that the party failed to address his requests for an explanation as to why the investigation into the complaint required a motion for his readmittance to the parliamentary party to be delayed and asked that he be told what party rule determined his removal from the parliamentary party pending the determination of a complaint.

The Sligo-Leitrim TD, who has been an outspoken critic of Taoiseach Micheál Martin, resigned the party whip last year over a vote of confidence in Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney.

Elsewhere at the party meeting, Clare TD Cathal Crowe was said to be critical of Minister of State Josepha Madigan over a lack of sufficient notice in advance of a visit to a school in her constituency. Two sources said Mr Crowe described her actions as overly party political.

The Taoiseach told the meeting that there would be a scaling up of rapid build housing to tackle housing lists, homelessness and accelerating timeframes for delivery. The government would also focus on the quick renovation of vacant buildings and would be paying €800 to households hosting Ukrainians.

The meeting also heard a discussion on orphan drugs policy.