Taoiseach hits back at Fianna Fáil TDs over criticism of his overseas travel delaying presidential election review

Taoiseach Micheál Martin speaking at the G20 summit in Johannesburg.

Taoiseach Micheál Martin has defended travelling to Africa for a G20 Leaders' Summit amid internal party accusations his overseas travel is delaying a review of the party's disastrous presidential election performance. 

Speaking in Angola, the Taoiseach insisted his attendance in Luanda for the AU-EU conference in Johannesburg for the G20 Leaders’ Summit, and his recent attendance at the Cop30 climate summit in Brazil, had no impact on the timeline for completing Fianna Fáil’s review of the presidential election campaign.

Several members of Mr Martin’s parliamentary party have repeatedly referenced the number of international trips the Taoiseach engages in, noting it often means he is not free to attend their weekly parliamentary party meetings.

The review of the presidential election, which saw Jim Gavin dramatically withdraw from the race, was initially expected to be completed two weeks ago, but it will now not be ready until the first week of December. 

Mr Martin did not complete his interview for the presidential campaign review until the day after the entire process was expected to be finished, with many suggesting his attendance at the Cop30 climate conference delayed proceedings.

Mr Martin robustly denied this suggestion, telling reporters in Luanda the “agenda” of people making these remarks needed to be questioned.

“Why are people saying there's a problem with attending Cop?” he said.

“Are people saying we shouldn't attend Cop? Is that the argument? Is that what people are asserting? That Ireland should no longer attend Cop?

“We've been attending Cop for the last five or six years. I just think there's a need for a bit of common sense, a sense of perspective.

Attending Cop is important, particularly when other countries are withdrawing from addressing the issue of climate change.

“I'm just intrigued by it all. I do think we need to question agendas, question why a small minority are saying things. There isn't substance to that.

“At the last parliamentary party meeting, the review committee told the party the timeline [for the presidential review].

“Me being here has no impact whatsoever on the timeline of that review."

The Taoiseach said journalists “need to question the sort of people who are saying that”. 

Asked if he meant members of his parliamentary party, the Taoiseach said: “Yes”.

He also denied the Government had not achieved much, saying there had been successes in protecting Irish industries from tariffs.

"That's why international engagement matters, for God's sake. Do people think we go back to an isolated position where we don't attend any meetings?

“This is ridiculous, whoever is asserting that.

“In particular with the tariff situation. I went to Japan. Why? Japan invests hugely in Ireland. There's a huge trade relationship between Ireland and Japan.

“We have to engage as a country."