Party rebel felt he had to resign after speaking out

MICHEÁL MARTIN said remaining in office after the rebellion against his party leader was incompatible with his public criticism of Brian Cowen.

The former Foreign Affairs Minister said he took the decision without “any sense of rancour” and that his 13 years in Cabinet had been an honour.

Mr Martin — who had served at the departments of education, health, enterprise and foreign affairs — said he had told Mr Cowen on Sunday if the vote went against him he would step down.

“If you come out in public as I did and speak against the Taoiseach in that manner… and cast a vote against him in a vote of confidence, this is incompatible with staying in office,” he said.

He also promised Mr Cowen he would actively canvass for him in the coming weeks.

“I will support the Taoiseach wholeheartedly in the election,” he said.

Mr Martin said there had been a clear resolution on the issue of Mr Cowen’s stewardship of Fianna Fáil and he respected the decision.

“We go into this election as a united party under our leader,” he said.

The Cork South Central deputy addressed reporters outside Leinster House shortly after 9.30pm and said he had no regrets about speaking against Mr Cowen’s confidence motion. “One has to make a stand,” he said.

He refused to be drawn on the criticism he made in recent days against the leadership of Fianna Fáil and its state of preparedness ahead of the election.

He said he had taken heart from the contributions of his parliamentary party colleagues and had tried to keep the debate clean. “I was not interested in tearing anyone down,” he said.

He also hoped younger members would not be affected by his actions to try oust the leader.

Mr Martin said that he would not comment on the positions adopted by other members of the Cabinet, who publicly supported the Taoiseach in the lead up to last night’s meeting. He had previously said that other ministers supported his position.

He spoke to the Taoiseach immediately after the result became known. Mr Martin said his resignation was accepted reluctantly and Mr Cowen commented that they left going down in the same lift and that alone “spoke volumes” for their relationship.

Deputy Noel O’Flynn, who supported Mr Martin’s campaign, said he would row in behind the appeal for unity.

“I would accept that decision. Micheál Martin put his case strongly, it was a case I supported long before anyone else came out, but it is something now that has been decided.

“I think Micheál Martin has taken a principled stand, he is a conviction politician, he is through and through Fianna Fáil and I think it is with regret that he has had to resign,” Mr O’Flynn said.

There was no comment from junior minister Billy Kelleher as to whether he would also resign after expressing no confidence in Mr Cowen.

Government Chief Whip John Curran also addressed the media and said 18 TDs had spoken in the parliamentary meeting. He said Mr Martin had congratulated the Taoiseach and this was accepted.

“He was clear this would bring an end to this issue so the party can unite behind Brian Cowen,” said Mr Curran.