Fianna Fail leader failing to see the woods for the trees

The contents of the Micheál Martin tapes were shocking.

Half an hour of prime time television and he said virtually nothing memorable. All the subject boxes were ticked, but few of the mental switches were flicked.

It was a rather stale, pale affair that saw a surge for the exits in the RDS hall even while the applause was continuing — most unusual for Fianna Fáil.