Alison O'Connor: Jack Chambers is laying the groundwork, but doesn’t want Martin to go yet

Avidly pursuing a healthy version of the old chicken-and-chips circuit, the 31-year-old Fianna Fáil junior minister has also been growing politically and is now widely tipped for promotion

Government chief whip and Minister of State for Gaeltacht Affairs and Sport Jack Chambers is pursuing a dizzying schedule of visits to sports clubs all around Ireland. Picture: Moya Nolan

Poor Jack Chambers is caught in the crosshairs of the Irish Examiner. Or at least he feels that he is.  The Government chief whip is clearly worried that too many appearances in this newspaper answering questions about his future political plans will make it seem he really does have serious intentions.

On the day we meet for a pre-arranged chat, his interview with the Irish Examiner’s deputy political editor, Elaine Loughlin, has appeared under the headline: “Is Jack Chambers the man to whip Fianna Fail into line as leader?”