Éamon Ó Cuív has been sacked from the Fianna Fáil front bench.
Deputy Ó Cuív and Senator Mark Daly launched the campaign of Sorcha McAnespy last month, unveiling her as the first Fianna Fáil candidate to contest elections in Northern Ireland.
But party HQ had not signed off on it, and was not aware of the launch.
Yesterday Deputy Martin sacked Senator Daly as deputy leader in the Seanad, and today Éamon Ó Cuív has been removed as Rural Affairs spokesperson.
This is the second time Deputy O'Cuiv, who is Eamon De Valera's grandson, has been sacked from the front bench.
He was also removed as Deputy leader in 2012 after opposing Fianna Fáil's view on EU fiscal regulations.
