Tánaiste acknowledged Fine Gael briefings on Taoiseach were ‘out of order’, Micheál Martin says

A number of newspapers last week had carried stories containing quotes from Fine Gael sources who said that the Taoiseach was responsible for “mixed messages” on the Mercosur trade agreement. Opposition led by France, Ireland, and Poland failed to prevent the deal from being passed last week, though Mr Martin had opened the door for Ireland to vote in favour while in China. Picture: Brian Lawless/PA

Tánaiste Simon Harris called Taoiseach Micheál Martin to say briefings against him in newspapers by Fine Gaeol sources were “out of order”.

A number of newspapers last week had carried stories containing quotes from Fine Gael sources who said that the Taoiseach was responsible for “mixed messages” on the Mercosur trade agreement. Opposition led by France, Ireland, and Poland failed to prevent the deal from being passed last week, though Mr Martin had opened the door for Ireland to vote in favour while in China.

In an interview with RTÉ’s This Week programme, Mr Martin said that there was no issue with coalition cohesion and that the Tánaiste had phoned him.

To be fair to the Tánaiste, he rang me to say that was out of order...he got on straight away and said, ‘that’s not right, that’s wrong’...I accept the bona fides of that intervention.

“We’re not responsible as leaders (for briefings). Briefings happen in politics on an ongoing basis. And the bottom line is, I don’t get distracted by that. We have to focus on substance and on policies. 

"I’ve always been a person on the policies, on the substance.”

Mr Martin, who earlier this month said he was confident in his leadership of Fianna Fáil, said TDs and senators are “working as a parliamentary party collective in terms of continuing reforms” after Jim Gavin’s presidential campaign.

“Fianna Fáil is in a very strong position. You’d be forgiven for thinking otherwise in terms of some of the public comment. We’re the largest party in the Dáil, largest party in local government. Doubled our representation in the European Parliament. So we’re relatively in a fragmented electoral and political cycle of modern times, but we’re quite strong. We need to get stronger. We need to continually regenerate and renew and get new members in.”

• Paul Hosford is Acting Political Editor.