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Protests end but pressure begins to mount on Fianna Fáil

Prime Minister of Ireland Micheal Martin
Micheál Martin is a leader under pressure following backlash within Fianna Fáil following the fuel protests

The protests on the streets may have ceased, but the political upheaval may have just commenced.

Fianna Fáil TDs are worried and want things to change.

Dáil seats are in jeopardy, and TDs fear that without radical change they will remain the focus for the ferocious public anger unleashed during the fuel protests.

That could signal major trouble for the party leader and Taoiseach Micheál Martin.

The party's youngest TDs issued a statement essentially saying they won't tolerate being ignored any longer.

More experienced colleagues chipped in tonight.

They are seeking an urgent meeting to discuss the cause of the party's difficulties, which they hope will take place next week.

Fianna Fáil TDs James O'Connor, Ryan O'Meara and Albert Dolan.
Fianna Fáil's youngest TDs James O'Connor, Ryan O'Meara and Albert Dolan issued a statement today

Others within the Fianna Fáil ranks are trying to figure out if this is a coordinated move against Micheál Martin.

And they want to know if one of the contenders to the throne is pressing the buttons behind the scenes.

Apparently not, is the word.

Instead, a group of young and older TDs have grown tired of waiting for someone to challenge Micheál Martin's leadership.

They now want to force a confidence vote in the party leader, which requires the signatures of 12 of the party's 48 TDs.

Many within the parliamentary party feel such a move might be premature and would prefer to weigh things up after the by-elections in late May.

So, it is unclear right now if this latest wave of unease has true momentum.

But unquestionably, Micheál Martin is a leader under pressure.