Mick Clifford: Was it hubris that led Micheál Martin to dismiss Jim Gavin’s deficits?

While it appears unlikely that someone will emerge to take on a damaged Mr Martin, his departure will no longer be on his own terms

Taoiseach Micheál Martin with former presidential election candidate Jim Gavin. The fiasco has resulted in the party looking amateur and humiliated. Picture: Damien Eagers 

Hubris gets us all in the end. Or at least those of us who contract it. 

Last November, Micheál Martin could be forgiven a shot of hubris. He had arrived at the peak of his political career. Fianna Fáil was once again the largest party in government, albeit in a different country from the one that existed when they last occupied the high ground.

He had had a great election. Middle Ireland trusted him as a man who wouldn’t lose the run of himself. Crucially, he had done it his way, keeping things tight, keeping many of his elected colleagues at a distance. That system had served well for the greater part throughout his time at the helm and continued to do so. And then, our old pal hubris showed.

Political capital was squandered with the Lowry affair. Negotiating with Michael Lowry as the appointed top man in the independent group created a few waves, but only temporarily. When it emerged that a deal had been cut that allowed Mr Lowry and others to effectively act as opposition at question time, a storm blew up.

Already, with November’s peak disappearing in the mists, Mr Martin had the cut of a man believing he could now do no wrong. The storm passed, although a sourness in the Dáil lingered, ensuring that nothing would be easy from now on.

Then the presidency came along. 

He could have chosen to sit out the election, but that would not have been a good look for the biggest party in the State

There was little in the way of potential winners presenting themselves. Bertie Ahern was weighed down with baggage. Mary Hanafin was, with the greatest respect to her, somebody who had once served in government.

Others were mentioned, such as the academic Deirdre Heenan, who might have been in the Mary McAleese school of candidates. Ms McAleese won when Fianna Fáil was polling around 40%. With the party now on about half of that level of support, celebrity wattage would be required to bring any outsider, even one with intellectual heft, into contention.

On paper, Jim Gavin had a lot going for him. The electoral cockpit of Dublin, the GAA, public service in both a citizens assembly and the inner city. He had a reputation as being organised and a stickler for preparation. He could make a great candidate.

Project his candidacy to the day of the count, and he could be up there on the podium, as if it were the Hogan Stand, holding aloft the cup, thanking the manager who made it all possible. And the camera pans to the man with the Midas touch down pitchside, giving Jim the thumbs up, basking in the glow of yet another unlikely victory.

Maybe it was his hubris that led Mr Martin to dismiss Mr Gavin’s deficits.

He had never expressed an opinion on a public matter. Nobody knew where he stood on anything. He had never had to account for himself before the media 

Check the archives, and you will find precious few interviews for a sportsperson who had been so successful.

Still, who else was there? Billy Kelleher emerged in August around the time Maria Steen appeared. By then, Mr Martin and those around him had committed to Mr Gavin. And whatever long shot Mr Gavin would be in the contest, nobody was seriously suggesting Billy could win it.

Now we know how it ended. The gamble didn’t pay off. An inquiry will examine how diligent the due diligence was, but once the candidate denied that there was anything to worry about in his background, his handlers had to take him at his word.

The farrago though, does fall on Micheál Martin, and his apparent preferred successor, Jack Chambers. What has resulted is the party looking amateur and humiliated, calling to mind some of the dark days in the years immediately before Mr Martin took over.

At times like this, party leaders call on their base within the parliamentary party to shore things up. But this leader hasn’t really had a base, due to his tight approach to leadership

He has been here before at various points over his tenure. In 2014, there was discontent in the ranks, some of it associated with Mr Martin’s leadership style. At the time, veteran TD Willie O’Dea was asked on Morning Ireland for his opinion on the leader.

“I say this with the greatest respect to my colleagues,” he said. “I look around the table, in my mind’s eye, and I don’t see the messiah. And when I look in the mirror, I don’t see him either.” 

Those looking around the table today might get a rush of blood to the head and spot Jim O’Callaghan’s steady hand since ascending to the role of justice minister. They might then sit back and recall that he has been in the position for all of seven months.

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Right now, it appears very unlikely that a new messiah will emerge to take on a damaged Mr Martin. His departure, however, will no longer be on his terms and is most likely to occur soon after he leaves the Taoiseach’s office in November 2027. Mr Chambers’ chances of succeeding him have taken a major hit.

Not all political careers end in failure, but for those who have been successful, hubris always lurks with intent around the next corner.