Paul Hosford: No backslapping or flash on Martin's last day as Taoiseach

Micheál Martin was reluctant to talk about legacy or his own departure given Thursday's tragic events in Lebanon

Outgoing Taoiseach Micheál Martin said given the gravity of what had happened in Lebanon, it would be inappropriate to speak about his own feelings or anything else domestically. Picture: Sasko Lazarov/RollingNews.ie

When the date of the European Council's final meeting of 2022 was set, the EU leadership had unwittingly landed a problem on the Government.

The resignation of Micheál Martin and his replacement by Leo Varadkar as Taoiseach was intended to be held on Thursday, right when the council was debating the impact of the American Inflation Reduction Act.