here<\/a>. <\/p>\nSarah Burns – 2 hours ago<\/p>\n
MEP Barry Cowen calls for \u2018full and frank review\u2019 <\/b><\/p>\n
Fianna F\u00e1il MEP Barry Cowen is calling for a \u201cfull and frank review\u201d of the process through which the party decided on a candidate for the presidential election.<\/p>\n
Cowen told RT\u00c9 radio\u2019s Morning Ireland that he had not been satisfied with the lack of transparency and structure in the process in the months leading up to the decision, Vivienne Clarke<\/b> reports. <\/p>\n
\u201cThere was little transparency or structure, the leadership seemed to believe from the outset that no current or former Fianna F\u00e1il TD or minister, for example, could come forward and could win, so they looked outside, but there has to be a proper open and robust process.<\/p>\n
\u201cI would hope that a recommendation would also emanate from such a meeting tomorrow night to make recommendations to an Ard Feis for a more inclusive process that allows councillors and party members the opportunity to engage in a procedure and a process and own the resulting nomination, which wasn\u2019t the case this time.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cowen said he understood Miche\u00e1l Martin\u2019s wish to \u201creach beyond the party base\u201d, but in doing so he \u201cmay have lost sight of the talent and the experience already within Fianna F\u00e1il and the benefits that would accrue as part of nominating from within. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt was always going to be harder, for example, to motivate the grassroots for someone that the party was less familiar with. So when a contest did finally emerge between Billy Kelleher and Jim Gavin, what really disappointed me personally was the rush to engage in a public tally of counter-parliamentary voting intentions in the media before the actual meeting took place.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cowen said he had voted for Billy Kelleher having worked closely with the Cork MEP for years.<\/p>\n
\u201cI knew that his ability to engage with the public, to handle scrutiny, clearly articulate his ideas and those of the party. I didn\u2019t know Jim Gavin personally, he came highly recommended, as has been alluded to, fine credentials in relation to his time in the GAA with the defence forces, his charity work. But the scrutiny involved in entering a case like this is unforgiving.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"MEP](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/NYGUSW4U3BEDHER53KXQ2AECMM.JPG\")
MEP Barry Cowen says there must be ‘full and frank review’. Photograph: Alan Betson \/ The Irish Times<\/p>\n
Cowen said the issue of timelines in the Jim Gavin case, \u201cwho knew what and when\u201d was concerning and something that he expected to be scrutinised and interrogated by a committee that would be set up as a result of the parliamentary party meeting on Wednesday night. <\/p>\n
Recommendations would then be sent to the parliamentary party on what actions, if necessary, should be taken, he added.<\/p>\n
When asked who he would not vote for in the presidential election, Mr Cowen said: \u201cI respect Catherine Connolly\u2019s authenticity, for example, her willingness to articulate a vision, something that might be lacking in recent times in politics to tell the truth. <\/p>\n
\u201cBut I fundamentally disagree with her on issues that are vital to Ireland\u2019s place in the world and a role in Europe and international trade and diplomacy. <\/p>\n
\u201cThe President represents Ireland internationally and comments such as hers that she\u2019s made in recent times can undermine their partners.\u201d <\/p>\n
Cowen said he would be voting for Heather Humphreys, but would not be recommending or expect other members of Fianna F\u00e1il to do so.<\/p>\n
Sarah Burns – 2 hours ago<\/p>\n
Good morning. The fallout from Jim Gavin\u2019s abandoned presidential campaign continues, though will be largely overshadowed by today\u2019s budget. <\/p>\n
Taoiseach Miche\u00e1l Martin will face one of the sternest tests of his long leadership at a party meeting on Wednesday night. <\/p>\n
Many Fianna F\u00e1il representatives openly criticised Martin for showing a lack of judgement in his strong backing of Gavin as the party\u2019s preferred candidate for the \u00c1ras. <\/p>\n
Our lead story from the political team can be read here<\/a> and follow irishtimes.com for updates throughout the day. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Key Reads Sarah Burns – 1 minute ago \u2018There is a lot of pressure on Miche\u00e1l Martin\u2019 Dr…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":106534,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[40],"tags":[9,10,1921,18,13,14,4771,553,6,555,19,17,19487,11,12,15,16,5,59,47,7,8],"class_list":{"0":"post-106533","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-ireland","8":"tag-breaking-news","9":"tag-breakingnews","10":"tag-catherine-connolly","11":"tag-eire","12":"tag-featured-news","13":"tag-featurednews","14":"tag-fianna-fail","15":"tag-fine-gael","16":"tag-headlines","17":"tag-heather-humphreys","18":"tag-ie","19":"tag-ireland","20":"tag-jim-gavin","21":"tag-latest-news","22":"tag-latestnews","23":"tag-main-news","24":"tag-mainnews","25":"tag-news","26":"tag-presidential-election","27":"tag-sinn-fein","28":"tag-top-stories","29":"tag-topstories"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/106533","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=106533"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/106533\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/106534"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=106533"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=106533"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=106533"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
![\"Posters](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/2AZ57MMOBVBTVFPCFURC7GY72E.jpg\")
Posters for Fianna Fail presidential candidate Jim Gavin still hanging outside Leinster House, Dublin, on Monday Photo: Cillian Sherlock\/PA Wire <\/p>\n