At Fianna Fáil’s first ard fheis following its electoral defeat in 2011, a leading British politics academic, Professor Tim Bale, delivered sobering advice to delegates: “You have to realise that your brand is not simply tarnished, it is utterly trashed. It is not just trashed, it is toxic.”

Micheál Martin is adamant that his party’s poll resurgence will continue, writes Deputy Political Editor Mary Regan.

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