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Investigates Investigates Money Diaries The Journal TV Climate Crisis Cost of Living Road Safety Newsletters Temperature Check Inside the Newsroom The Journal Investigates Daft.ie Property Allianz Home The 42 Sport TG4 Entertainment The Explainer A deep dive into one big news story Sport meets news, current affairs, society & pop culture have your say Or create a free account to join the discussion Advertisement More Stories Micheál Martin was not in attendance at tonight's meeting as he is travelling to COP30 in Brazil.Alamy Stock Photo post-presidential meeting Fianna Fáilers vent about so-called 'naughty list' while the boss is en route to Brazil The meeting was also told there is “serious risk” the government is taking a flawed approach to the nitrates derogation deal. 11.53pm, 5 Nov 2025 Share options FIANNA FÁIL TDs whose names were included on a so-called “naughty list” of rebels have spoken about their upset at being named. Tonight’s meeting, the first of the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party since the presidential election, heard from a number of individuals listed on what has been described as a “naughty list” by those in the party. It was reported last week that those in Micheál Martin’s circle drew up a list of Fianna Fáil TDs opposed to his leadership. It is understood to be divided into two categories: “rebels” and “old guard”. The Taoiseach has denied that such a list was drawn up. Once source told The Journal that tonight’s meeting began around a discussion of the list, with a number of TDs speaking about their “disappointment” about being named on such a list. “A few of the lads got upset they’re named on a list of ‘rebels’”, said another. “It was all about the naughty list,” said another TD, who said people were annoyed at being named. They said much of the blame for the list was put at the feet of the Taoiseach’s leadership team. A number of people took issue with being called the “old guard” while concerns were also raised about why asking questions of the leadership would place someone on a ‘rebel’ list. Martin was not present at this evening’s meeting to hear the frustrations of his party members, but was instead enroute to Brazil for COP30. Advertisement Aside from internal concerns about being listed on a rebel list, it is understood TD John McGuinness, who has been vocal about the need for a discussion around the future leadership of the party, questioned if the review being carried out on the party’s presidential campaign will be completed by the deadline of next week. It is understood reassurances were given that the report, which is being overseen by an independent legal expert, alongside TDs Eamon Scanlon, Tom Brabazon and Senator Margaret Murphy O’Mahony, will be ready on 12 November. ‘The future of Irish agriculture’ After party grievances were aired, MEP Barry Cowen, who had flown from Brussels specifically for this evening’s meeting, fired a warning shot on the nitrates derogation. “I believe this moment for the future of Irish agriculture is, quite frankly, too important to sit out,” he said, telling his party colleagues that there is a “serious risk of taking a flawed, short-sighted approach”. The derogation is a key exception that allows Irish farmers to use more nitrogen than their EU counterparts and keep denser cow herds. Under the Nitrates Directive, farmers have to ensure that nitrogen from organic manure applied to their land does not exceed 170kg per hectare per year – but due to Ireland’s grass-fed farming model some farmers can use up to 250kg. This exception is set to expire for Ireland – impacting around 7,000 farmers – on 1 January. It comes as a recent report by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) shows that levels of nitrogen in Irish rivers have jumped by 16% this year. Cowen said this evening that he had formally written to the Taoiseach today seeking a meeting on the matter and called for a detailed update to the parliamentary party at the earliest opportunity. At this meeting, the Taoiseach must tell the party about his activities with the Department of Agriculture and his own Department to date on the derogation retention, and the content of his own meetings with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, said the Midlands North-West MEP. Cowen told the meeting this evening that he believes an agreement will be announced before the derogation expires at the end of the year, telling colleagues that a “deal could be announced in principle as early as on Friday when Environment Commissioner Jessika Roswall visits Ireland”. Related Reads Trouble ahead? Why Connolly's victory ramps up the pressure on both Martin and Harris What part of the country gave the most votes to Jim Gavin? FF and FG 'need to be humble' in wake of Connolly landslide win “I’ve no doubt the Minister and his team have worked hard, but let’s be honest – a deal for the sake of a deal isn’t a victory if it won’t work on the ground. “As somebody senior in Brussels put it to me this week: I’m 100% sure we will secure a deal at this stage, but I’m also 100% sure that, in the long-run, the conditionality will make the deal unworkable for virtually 100% of farmers,” he added. Cowen warned that the deal is understood to be “highly conditional derogation” which would be “buried under layers of appropriate assessments and ongoing reviews”. “For the majority of the 7,000 farmers involved – who produce 60% of Ireland’s milk output and form the bedrock of so many other facets of our economy – it could become unworkable,” he said. The reception to his speech was described as “extremely complimentary”, with one TD stating that it was clear Cowen was on a mission to put the blame for a “very bad nitrate deal for farmers” at the feet of the Taoiseach. Closing out his address to members this evening, Cowen said: “If the failure of the recent presidential campaign has taught us anything, it must be the immediate need for less centralised power and unilateral decisions in Fianna Fáil and, instead, for the views of the entire party to be heard and listened to. “Indeed, there has been much discussion in recent weeks about the need to return to core Fianna Fáil values. Standing up for rural Ireland, rural communities and their way of life – that’s at the heart of who we are. “We told farmers in recent years we would cut red tape and bureaucracy, from Brussels and at home. Any deal that undermines that or makes it harder for the next generation to take over family farms cannot be described as a return to Fianna Fáil values.” Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Support The Journal Christina Finn Send Tip or Correction Embed this post To embed this post, copy the code below on your site Email “Fianna Fáilers vent about so-called 'naughty list' while the boss is en route to Brazil”. 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