If O’Brien is the answer then FF should ask another question

Bradley Bytes – a sort of political column with Dara Bradley

When you consider that Darragh O’Brien is one of the main contenders to replace Micheál Martin as leader of Fianna Fáil, you sort of grasp just how deep in do-do the party finds itself.

The Soldiers of Destiny aren’t exactly laden down with talent but if O’Brien is the answer then really they need to ask a different question.

As the Fianna Fáil Parliamentary Party meets in Cavan ahead of the new Dáil term, it’s easy to see why disgruntled TDs and Senators haven’t yet deposed Martin – there’s no alternative.

O’Brien is Housing Minister and seems like a sound, harmless enough old skin. But he’s no leader-in-waiting, if last week is a barometer.

Fianna Fáil was once the party that built houses. It asked for the housing portfolio in Coalition negotiations with Fine Gael and the Greens. Housing is the hill it is willing to die on. Solve the housing crisis and the electorate will reward Fianna Fáil, is their hope.

Wouldn’t you think, then, that after announcing what we’re told is the most comprehensive housing policy in the State’s history, O’Brien would have the courage of his convictions to actually debate and defend it against Opposition attack on national television?

But no. Instead of going head-to-head with Sinn Féin’s housing spokesperson, Eoin Ó Broin, O’Brien opted for one-to-one interviews firstly with Miriam O’Callaghan – who incidentally is a brother of the other leadership contender, Jim O’Callaghan – on Prime Time; and then with Claire Brock, on Tonight. On both programmes, Ó Broin was interviewed after O’Brien left the studio.

RTÉ and Virgin Media should have refused to give O’Brien airtime if he was unwilling to debate, but media cowardice aside, can you imagine previous leaders like Charlie Haughey, Albert Reynolds, Bertie Ahern or Brian Cowen shying away from a scrap with their opposite?

It’s another reason why O’Brien will not be leader, regardless of the desire for a Dublin TD to take over.

Meanwhile, one Dubliner who knows more than most that Fianna Fail is in trouble is Galway West TD, Éamon Ó Cuív.

On Comhrá on TG4 last week, Dev Óg showed his human side in a soft-focus, and interesting, one-on-one interview.

He confirmed he would not leave FF, despite his issues with the direction the party took and its leadership. And although he conceded it was a ‘long way off yet’, Ó Cuív hinted to Máirtín Tom Sheáinín that he would contest the next general election. He’s hardly eyeing up Martin’s job?
This is a shortened preview version of Bradley Bytes. To read more, see this week’s Galway City Tribune. You can buy a digital edition HERE.