Fianna Fáil TDs Seán Ó Fearghaíl, Willie O'Dea and Pat 'the Cope’ Gallagher have issued a statement following Tuesday’s Fianna Fáil parliamentary party meeting that discussed the report into the party’s disastrous presidential election campaign.
In it, they said withholding the report from TDs and Senators until shortly before the meeting "was a grievous mistake" and must not happen again.
The three senior TDs - who previously intervened last Monday to call on the party to publish the report - said their "determination to see true engagement with elected members again become the norm within our great party was impressed upon the leadership".
They said they "reject the top-down autocratic style of politics", adding that the party’s "internal culture must better reflect that".
"Advisers and appointed officials play important supporting roles, but elected representatives must have the ultimate authority in shaping our party’s direction," they said.
They further stated that "many of the problems with that failed campaign also apply to how we conduct our politics on the real and pressing issues that concern us most; housing health and the cost of living".
The concluded saying that while "the public discussion of Fianna Fáil's botched campaign may now be concluded, the vital goal of widening and deepening democratic accountability within Fianna Fáil is only just beginning".
An internal party review outlined that Mr Gavin was asked five times about a reference to a dispute with a tenant, including twice before he was selected.
