MEMBERS of Fianna Fail in Co Donegal are split tonight after deputy leader Éamon Ó Cuív resigned.
Donegaldaily.com spoke to four different senior members of the party – two said they supported the stance taken by Éamon Ó Cuív, while two said they were backing party leader Micheál Martin.
Éamon Ó Cuív has also resigned as Communications Spokesperson.
Party leader Micheál Martin in a statement said he had accepted Mr Ó Cuív’s resignation from these positions.
Mr Martin said “Éamon’s refusal to support the Parliamentary Party’s position on the Fiscal Compact meant that it was no longer feasible for him to occupy these roles.”
Speaking on RTE’s SixOne News Mr Ó Cuív said that Micheál Martin rang him at 4pm today, saying he was to resign and was no longer a member of the front bench.
Mr Ó Cuív said the Taoiseach should “go back” to Brussels to get concessions for Ireland before the treaty could be passed, including a “writedown of banking debt.”
One of those here who supports Ó Cuív here in the county told us: “This is the end of Martin as far as I am concerned. Eamon knows the people and knows what they are thinking – Martin doesn’t.”
However another senior party member in the county said “most supporters” in Co Donegal backed the party leader.
“It’s a very sad day for the party but it is bigger than any one man and Michael Martin is the only one capable of taking us forward,” he said.
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