'Nonsensical and immature': Fianna Fáil's John McGuinness refuses to become Independent TD
Fianna Fáil TD John McGuinness has insisted he has no intention of quitting the party and becoming an Independent after becoming embroiled in a blazing behind-closed-doors row with other TDs over his repeated refusal to stick to the party line.
Mr McGuinness accused colleagues of being "nonsensical and immature" after claiming some TDs said he should consider becoming an Independent due to his views on the confidence and supply deal.
As reported by the Irish Examiner, Mr McGuinness and Fianna Fáil public expenditure spokesperson Barry Cowen clashed on Tuesday evening over the back-bench TDs repeated public criticisms of the official party line.
During a heated eight minute row at Fianna Fáil's weekly parliamentary party meeting, Mr Cowen raised recent public statements from unnamed TDs - believed to be Sean Fleming, Marc Mac Sharry and Mr McGuinness - for Micheál Martin to act and bring down the Government now.
Mr McGuinness responded by launching a tirade against Mr Cowen, saying he will not be bullied, intimidated or embarrassed into backing down or silenced.
Speaking on RTE's Today With Sean O'Rourke programme, Mr McGuinness repeated his views publicly, adding that suggestions from some TDs he should become an Independent miss the point entirely.
"It was a robust exchange, where I told him and the parliamentary party I would not be bullied and intimidated into a position I did not agree with.
"I wouldn't [leave Fianna Fáil and become an Independent], I think it's a nonsensical and immature suggestion to make because political parties are about democracy, they're about debate.
"I wasn't asked directly but you could say that in a combination of words it could have been interpreted. The answer is no," he said.
Mr McGuinness believes that if Irish democracy is to work properly then Fianna Fáil needs to be able to "set out that there are other views in the party, up and down the country" than the official party line.
Mr McGuinness's views remain in the minority in Fianna Fáil, while Mr Martin's view that the party cannot cause a general election during the Brexit crisis is the dominant opinion.
However, a number of TDs have become increasingly irritated in recent weeks by repeated goading from Sinn Féin over the confidence and supply deal.
Earlier: John McGuinness: Fine Gael should give Fianna Fáil 'something extra' in return for support
Fianna Fáil should receive “something extra, some sort of price” from Fine Gael for their support of the Government through the confidence and supply agreement, claims Carlow-Kilkenny TD John McGuinness.
He told RTE’s Today with Sean O’Rourke show that there should be greater transparency and support for bills such as the one which could give extra powers to the Comptroller and Auditor General to investigate all infrastructure projects as soon as they go over budget.
He was responding to a report that he and party colleague Barry Cowen had clashed at a private party meeting over issues such as the extension of the confidence-and-supply deal.
Mr Cowen, a TD for Offaly, criticised some colleagues for speaking in a “personal capacity” in recent interviews on subjects such as the extension of the confidence-and-supply deal, which underpins the Fine Gael-led minority government.
Mr McGuinness insisted he would express his views inside and outside the parliamentary party room and said he would not be “bullied, intimidated… [or] embarrassed”.
There had been a complete shut down of democracy, he claimed and that was why he used the parliamentary party to raise such issues.
That was also the reason why he has no intention of running as an independent candidate, he added.
