Fianna Fáil disarray - Democracy will suffer

POLITICS is all about being in the arena at election time.

More than any other political party in Irish history, that has been the mantra of Fianna Fáil.

With his party machine broken, financially and otherwise, FF leader Micheál Martin had hoped for an association with broadcaster Gay Byrne to bring political kudos without putting up the considerable purse needed to fight a presidential campaign.