Micheál Martin ‘tried to avoid Fine Gael-Labour return’

Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin has claimed that he “made every effort” to prevent a Fine Gael-Labour government and that it is not his job to “dictate” whether the outgoing coalition should be returned.

Speaking at a Fianna Fáil 1916 commemoration at Dublin’s Arbour Hill cemetery amid speculation that Enda Kenny’s party is to attempt to convince Labour to re-enter power, Mr Martin said he cannot decide the composition of any Fine Gael-led minority government.

The potential plan to return the outgoing coalition despite it losing 56 seats is deeply divisive among Labour’s wider membership, with former TD Michael McNamara saying yesterday that such a move would see the public given “one of the greatest snubs in Irish history”.

However, despite the fact that Mr Martin vigorously campaigned to remove the previous coalition, he told reporters that if this happens, Fianna Fáil’s refusal to cut a deal with Fine Gael should not be blamed.

“We made every effort to provide an alternative, but it’s not possible,” he said.

“In that context we are able to facilitate a Fine Gael-led minority, and it’s not for us to dictate the composition of that government. We’re not making that call.”

The potential return of a weakened Fine Gael-Labour coalition could see Fianna Fáil benefit in the next election, with an opinion poll yesterday showing that Mr Martin’s party is the most popular party in Ireland for the first time in seven years.

According to a Behaviour and Attitudes survey published yesterday and taken in the 10 days before Mr Martin’s failed ‘now or never’ order to Independents, Fianna Fáil is now on 26% (up four percentage points), Fine Gael 23% (down 7pp), Sinn Féin 17% (up 2pp) and Labour 4% (no change).

Unaligned Independents are on 10% (no change), Independent Alliance 8% (up 3pp), AAA-PBP 4% (down 1pp), Greens 3% (no change), Workers Party 3% (up 2pp), Social Democrats 2% (down 1pp), and Renua 1% (down 2pp).

Mr Martin insisted yesterday that he wants to “facilitate” the next government.

Meanwhile, in a speech at Arbour Hill he repeatedly hit out at Sinn Féin, who, Sinn Féin MEP Matt Carthy said earlier, “aren’t afraid of another election”.

Accusing Sinn Féin of “twisting history”, Mr Martin said those who took part in the Rising would reject Sinn Féin today.

Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams said last night that Mr Martin’s “obsession” with his party is “bizarre”.