‘The baton must pass on now’ – Kilkenny TD repeats call for Martin to stand down

Outspoken Kilkenny TD John McGuinness has called on Taoiseach Micheál Martin to stand down as Fianna Fáil leader, saying the “baton must pass on now”.

Deputy McGuinness made the comments in a letter sent to Government chief whip Jack Chamber, which was made public just hours after Mr Martin made a plea for party unity.

In the letter, details of which were published in today’s Irish Examiner, Mr McGuinness wrote: “Over the last 18 months we have seen more missteps and stumbles than the judges on Strictly Come Dancing, at least one caused by the Taoiseach allowing Fianna Fáil to be used as a doormat that Simon Coveney and Katherine Zappone slid across the floor on.

“Mad stuff altogether, but it has seen our support dropping like a stone while we bend like a daisy in a storm every time Fine Gael sighs, which they do a lot.”

The Kilkenny TD added: “We have to put the past behind us and look to a new and better future under a new leader. Our members throughout the country are demanding it and the future of the party depends on it. The baton has to pass now.”