Martin: We didn't get everything wrong

Newly crowned Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin tonight said sorry for the party’s past mistakes – but insisted they did not get everything wrong.

The former Foreign Affairs Minister refused to say how many seats he was targeting in the general election and whether Taoiseach Brian Cowen would stand again.

Although Mr Martin admitted Fianna Fáil’s role in the country’s economic crisis, he claimed other political parties in the Dáil were just as culpable.

“I am sorry for the mistakes we made as a party and that I made as a minister, (I’m) very sorry for those mistakes that we made,” he said.

But he claimed there were “systemic failings” in the political system and pointed the finger at the Opposition for competing with Fianna Fáil on tax cuts and spending promises.

“We were all wrong,” he said.

Mr Martin also defended his party’s record in creating jobs, building new roads and improving education. “We didn’t get everything wrong in the last ten to 15 years,” he said.

The Cork TD was elected the eighth leader of Fianna Fáil after a secret ballot in Leinster House sparked by Mr Cowen’s decision to stand down at the weekend.

Finance Minister Brian Lenihan, Social Protection and Defence Minister Eamon O Cuiv, and Tourism Minister Mary Hanafin also put themselves forward in the contest.

On the first count, Mr Martin received 33 votes, Mr O Cuiv received 15, Mr Lenihan got 14 and Ms Hanafin was eliminated on 10 votes. After transfers in the second count, Mr O Cuiv and Mr Lenihan were on 18 votes each and Mr Martin 36 votes.

The new leader was eventually elected on the final count with 50 votes, compared to Mr O Cuiv’s 22.

Mr Cowen immediately pledged his full support to his successor, who had originally failed in a heave against the Taoiseach last week.

“I believe Micheál has proven in his various ministerial roles over the years that he has the essential leadership qualities of focused determination, stamina, collegiality and integrity, which will enable him to become a great leader of the Fianna Fail party,” said Mr Cowen.

Mr Martin vowed to rebuild Fianna Fáil and lead from the centre ground while making new opportunities for the young and women within its ranks. The party is languishing at the bottom of opinion polls with a record low of 14%.

He said he would shortly name his deputy leader, his new front bench and a director of elections.

While he refused to compare himself to the outgoing Taoiseach, Mr Martin insisted he would engage and be open with the electorate.

Describing his background as from a republican nationalist family, he highlighted past party figures Sean Lemass, Paddy Hillery and Donogh O’Malley as his inspiration.

Mr Martin said his successful challenge has committed him to political life for the next ten years and that he aimed to be Taoiseach.

Although he dismissed the politics of “soundbite and personality”, the new Fianna Fáil leader called for a series of debates with Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny and Labour leader Eamon Gilmore ahead of the election.