'Cop on a bit': Micheál Martin hits back at claims he is a 'grumpy old man'
Tanaiste Micheal Martin speaking to the media after attending the annual Wolfe Tone Commemoration at Bodenstown Cemetery, Co. Kildare. Picture: Brian Lawless/PA Wire
Tánaiste Micheál Martin has hit out at background figures in Fine Gael who are briefing that he has become 'a grumpy old man', saying they need to “cop on a bit”.
Speaking in Kildare, Mr Martin said that comments suggesting he is “tetchy” initially came from broadcaster and former Fine Gael TD Ivan Yates.
“Ivan was the first guy to say, ‘Oh Micheál is getting tetchy’. What’s that all about,” Mr Martin said, citing that it emerged following comments he made at the launch of a book about the murder of Sophie Toscan Du Plantier.
Mr Martin said that this was then repeated in reports in the Sunday Times, with senior Fine Gael sources describing him as "tetchy".
“It’s quite amusing at one level, but I would say to people cop on a bit. It’s silly,” he added.
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“It’s not something that makes any sense.”
The Tánaiste rejected assertions that his comments about being a person of substance rather than soundbites were a thinly veiled criticism of Taoiseach Simon Harris.
“It’s just clearly stating where I am as a politician and have been all my life,” Mr Martin said.
“I think there’s a tendency now anything I say is taken by media as a comment on somebody else whereas, actually, it’s a comment on my position, my disposition, my approach to politics which is one of substance.”
Mr Martin said that in any political office he has held, he has “sought to leave a positive legacy”, citing the smoking ban during his tenure as Health Minister.
“That’s what substance is about and there can be a tendency in modern politics towards the headlines and towards sort of very superficial approach.
“But I think the approach that in Government, we’re there to deliver as best we can for the people.”
Mr Martin said that the substantive issue of the forthcoming election would be housing and further investment in public services.
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