“The sooner the better as far as I’m concerned, quite frankly."
Fianna Fáil TD Marc MacSharry has called on Taoiseach Micheál Martin to resign as party leader this summer following the party's poor performance in the Dublin Bay South by-election.
The party finished fifth place in terms of first preference votes, polling less than 5%.
The Taoiseach insisted on Friday it is still his intention to lead the party in the next general election, however, MacSharry has now said that he believes the Taoiseach should step down during the Dáil summer recess.
He told Newstalk on Sunday that there would be "no better time" than the summer recess for Martin to resign.
He said that while it is his "personal view" it will be a "matter for the party as a whole".
"But I think we’re now at that stage," he continued.
“The sooner the better as far as I’m concerned, quite frankly. It’s not my preference he would lead us into the next general election.
"I think a party with a performance of below 5%, with the history, culture and heritage of Fianna Fáil, must address that as a matter of the utmost urgency.
Clare TD Cathal Crowe echoed a similar sentiment on Sunday, saying that the party is divided over whether Martin should lead Fianna Fail into the next election.
Speaking on Saturday With Katie Hannon, he said: “I would expect that coming into the next general election we would have a new leader by then.
According to the Sunday Independent, attempts are being made within Fianna Fáil to secure the signatures of 10 TDs on a motion of no confidence in Taoiseach Micheál Martin.
This move would trigger a debate and potential vote on his leadership following the party's lack of success in the Dublin Bay South by-election. 
