Fianna F\u00e1il Cork East TD James O\u2019Connor <\/b><\/p>\n
Fianna F\u00e1il<\/a> backbencher James O\u2019Connor has said Jim Gavin<\/a> \u201cshould never have found himself on the ballot paper\u201d. <\/p>\n In a lengthy statement on Tuesday, the Cork East TD said Mr Gavin was there due to \u201cextensive pressure\u201d put on Fianna F\u00e1il TDs and Senators by party leader Miche\u00e1l Martin and deputy leader Jack Chambers. <\/p>\n \u201cThey repeatedly phoned each member of the parliamentary party in the days before the selection convention on September 9th,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n \u201cI regret the treatment bestowed on Mr Gavin and his family in the past two days. Elevating him one day and then throwing him under a bus the next has to be the most unceremonious dumping on a party candidate in modern Irish political history.\u201d<\/p>\n Former Fianna F\u00e1il minister and deputy leader \u00c9amon \u00d3 Cu\u00edv<\/b><\/p>\n \u00c9amon \u00d3 Cu\u00edv<\/a> said it was \u201chighly unlikely\u201d that Miche\u00e1l Martin<\/a> will lead the party into the next general election. <\/p>\n Speaking to Newstalk Breakfast, Mr \u00d3 Cu\u00edv said the Taoiseach had gone past the \u201cnatural sell-by date\u201d of Fianna F\u00e1il party leaders.<\/p>\n \u201cJust on a statistical basis, except for the founding leader of Fianna F\u00e1il, no Fianna F\u00e1il leader has lasted as long as Miche\u00e1l Martin,\u201d he said. \u201cThere seems to be a natural sell-by date for leaders of Fianna F\u00e1il.\u201d<\/p>\n In relation to Jim Gavin\u2019s abandoned candidacy, Mr \u00d3 Cu\u00edv said the debacle had \u201csignificantly damaged\u201d the party. <\/p>\n