WATCH: Tanáiste responds to claims that Fianna Fail is 'playing to woke gallery'

Tanáiste Micheal Martin and Deputy Wilile O’Dea put on a united front this Monday evening as Fianna Fáil formally introduced its candidate to contest the election for a directly elected mayor in Limerick.

Just hours earlier, Deputy O’Dea posted on X (formerly Twitter) that Fianna Fáil “needs to get back to basics and abandon the Hate Speech Bill etc.”

In the post, he said: “Focus on housing, health and law and order and stop playing to the woke gallery. Start listening to the people, stop talking down to them and stop listening to the out of touch Greens and NGOs.” 

The Fianna Fail TD's comments regarding the referendum, University Hospital Limerick and anti-social behaviour were put to Mr Martin by assembled reporters on the boardwalk at Harvey’s Quay in Limerick city.

The Tanaiste said only the people can decide in terms of an amendment to the Constitution - whether to add, change or delete articles or words from it.

“It is a very powerful thing in a democracy. I accept the will of the people as expressed last Friday. People are trying  to blame this or blame that. I never look at a referendum as a focus for blame. The people decide and you accept it,” said Mr Martin, who added that proposals have been on the table since 1996.

“I’m not so sure woke issues were around in 1996. Suffice to say, this issue has been on the agenda for a long time. This Government put it to the people and they didn't accept the propositions,” said Mr Martin, who denied it was a reflection of dissatisfaction with the Government or a message to Government.

He said himself and Mr O’Dea meet regularly and he was not going to have a conversation in the context of a press briefing.

“It was not today or yesterday that the propositions were conceived - it has been 30 years,” said Mr Martin.

It was put to Mr O’Dea that he said there were a lot of problems in Limerick regarding the hospital, anti-social behaviour and violence and he was obviously not happy with his party and the way they campaigned for the referendum.

Mr O’Dea said he was “here today to help introduce mayoral candidate Dee Ryan" adding that he every confidence in Ms Ryan and that they will put on a “robust campaign”.

PICTURE: Adrian Butler | VIDEO: Donal O'Regan