Micheál Martin is batting off an apparent challenge to his leadership.

Fianna Fáil's John McGuinness earlier said he wanted to know why the party hadn't secured a bigger jump in support and indicated - not for the first time - that he is interesting in becoming party leader.

Deputy Martin says the feedback he is getting from party members is 'very positive' and John McGuinness' apparent charge for his job will not be a thorn in his side:

John McGuinness, who chairs the Public Accounts Committee, said he wants to see a change in the party's direction. "You're in there to make a change and from this election I will raise the issues that I believe are important for the country, and for Fianna Fáil. And I will be asking them to change the direction that we're going in because we have gained, but we have not made significant gains across the country and we have to ask ourselves why that is?"

At this stage Fianna Fáil has the highest number of councillors elected to local authorities around the country. Independents and Others will be a significant presence, Fine Gael next, Sinn Féin have already passed 130, but Labour trail way behind. 

John McGuinness, TD, has rejected any suggestion from the party leadership that he might have a future in Europe, and says he wants a job much closer to home:

But Fianna Fáil's Health Spokesperson Billy Kelleher says the party achieved what it set out to do: 

Meanwhile, former Minister and new Councillor for the Dun Laoghaire Rathdown Council Mary Hanafin has played down her spat with party leadership. Cllr Hanafin said today she is looking forward to an internal party investigation into her actions in the run-up to the election.