'I'm not a prophet,' says Jim O'Callaghan when asked about Fianna Fáil leadership ambitions

Anger is continuing to mount in Fianna Fáil following confirmation that the review into the party’s presidential election campaign had been delayed.

Justice minister Jim O’Callaghan would not directly answer questions about his future when asked. Picture: Sam Boal/Collins Photos

Justice minister Jim O’Callaghan has declined to answer whether Micheál Martin will lead Fianna Fáil into the next election, arguing he is “not a prophet”.

Despite telling reporters that the Taoiseach was doing a “very good job”, he would not directly answer questions about his future when asked.

Mr O’Callaghan is seen in some quarters of Fianna Fáil as the party’s next leader when Mr Martin, who has led Fianna Fáil for 14 years so far, steps back.

Questions over Mr Martin’s future as leader are still up in the air following anger over the party’s handling of last month’s presidential election.

At Farmleigh yesterday, after the British Irish Intergovernmental Conference, Mr O’Callaghan was asked if he believed Mr Martin would lead Fianna Fáil into the next general election, and if Mr O’Callaghan wanted to be his party’s leader.

“I think the Taoiseach is doing a very good job,” Mr O’Callaghan said.

“I think some people forget that he led us very successfully in the general election that took place less than a year ago.

“In respect of your questions about the future, my response would be: ‘I'm not a prophet’.”

Anger is continuing to mount in Fianna Fáil following confirmation at the parliamentary party meeting last week that the review into the party’s presidential election campaign had been delayed.

Review panel member Tom Brabazon told the meeting that the review panel would not be able to complete its work until the end of the first week of December. It is unclear when the report itself will be completed.

Fianna Fáil’s presidential election candidate Jim Gavin pulled out of the race in October after it emerged that he had failed to tell the party about a previous dispute with a tenant.

Mr Gavin did not repay rent overpayments to a tenant worth €3,300 in 2009. He also did not register the property with the Residential Tenancies Board, as required under the law.

The party was plunged into further controversy earlier this month after it emerged that former Fine Gael minister Ivan Yates provided media training to Mr Gavin. Mr Yates did not declare this while appearing on several podcasts and radio shows during the election campaign.

The former TD for Wexford will appear at a meeting of the Oireachtas media committee tomorrow evening.