Taoiseach insists he will remain Fianna Fáil leader throughout Government term

Picture: Leah Farrell/© RollingNews.ie.

Taoiseach Micheál Martin has insisted he will remain as Fianna Fáil leader throughout the Government’s term, saying he remains “as hungry as ever”.

Mr Martin has said he intended to fulfil the mandate he received at the last general election.

“I’m not in politics because of myself or the office I hold, I’ve always been in politics to see can I improve things and do things, make a difference to the quality of life of people,” Mr Martin said.

“You don’t get all decisions right and that remains my motivation. I’m still as hungry as ever. I get involved every day in trying to push things forward.” 

His comments come amid questions about his future leadership of the party, following on from Jim Gavin’s disastrous exit from the presidential election last Sunday.

Mr Martin said Fianna Fáil is in “constant renewal”, citing the improvement in the party’s fortunes since its decimation in 2011.

The Taoiseach added it was reasonable for Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan to express his ambitions to be Fianna Fáil leader in the future.

On Mr Gavin’s wellbeing, Mr Martin confirmed that he had not spoken with the former Fianna Fáil candidate since he stepped away from the campaign last week.

However, Mr Martin said he has spoken with people close to Mr Gavin.

“I think it’s been very traumatic for him and very difficult for him and for his family and I’m very conscious and aware of that. We’ve agreed we’ll continue to maintain contact,” Mr Martin said.

The Taoiseach added he was glad to see the issue with Mr Gavin’s former tenant, Niall Donald, had been resolved.

Mr Gavin had previously failed to repay Mr Donald a sum of €3,300 in overpaid rent. It was confirmed on Friday that Mr Donald received the money from Mr Gavin.

Mr Martin said Mr Donald had been a “victim in all of this”, adding that he spoke “very candidly” about his experience on the Sunday World podcast Crime World.

In his speech to over 1,000 party members, Mr Martin apologised for the “clear failure” regarding Mr Gavin’s campaign.

“I want to acknowledge that and to say how deeply sorry I am, about how things turned out,” Mr Martin said.

He added Fianna Fáil will require a “new procedure” to decide on presidential candidates into the future.

Meanwhile, Mr Martin said he would not be instructing his party to back Fine Gael’s Heather Humphreys, saying there is a “certain degree of arrogance” to instruct people on how to vote.

Mr Martin added he would not campaign fo Ms Humphreys, but he would vote for her on October 24th.

The Taoiseach also launched an attack against Independent candidate Catherine Connolly and left-wing parties, criticising her and her backers for “anti-EU” views on trade and defence.

Questioned about Ms Connolly’s opposition to the removal of the triple-lock on sending peacekeepers abroad, Mr Martin highlighted the drone incursions taking place around Europe.

“We are now witnessing drone incursions on European members states, most recently Denmark. Obviously what’s happening in Munich needs to be analysed and evaluated. This is the reality in Europe.

Mr Martin said abolishing the triple lock made sense.

“Why should Russia, why should the United States, why should China have a veto on where Ireland sends peacekeeping troops,” Mr Martin said.

He highlighted the US’s role in ending the UNIFIL mission in Lebanon in 2027.

“I think we need far more flexibility than is currently offered by the paralysis on the Security Council at the moment,” he added.