Elaine Loughlin: Martin goes off script to point out 'cold hard cynicism' at heart of Sinn Féin

Micheál Martin's departure from the Taoiseach's office hasn't done anything to thaw out relations between Fianna Fáil and Sinn Féin, writes Elaine Loughlin

Just after 9.30am on Saturday, Micheál Martin made his way to Áras an Uachtaráin to tender his resignation to President Michael D Higgins.

In his own words it had been both "a privilege and a responsibility" to lead the Government over the past two-and-half years.

But faced with a pandemic, the war in Ukraine, a cost of living crisis, not to mention the perpetual emergencies in housing and healthcare, very often it must have felt heavy on responsibility and light on the little privileges that come with the Taoiseach's office.