If Micheál Martin has a fight on his hands, he's coming out swinging
Taoiseach Micheal Martin took aim at several Fianna Fáil figures, including John McGuinness, Padraig O’Sullivan, and James O’Connor. Picture: Brian Lawless/PA
“I'm not going anywhere.”
Taoiseach Micheál Martin couldn’t be any clearer about his position as leader of Fianna Fáil.
He came out swinging and defended his position after a number of TDs broke cover on Sunday to call for a process to replace him.
During an interview with the , Mr Martin repeatedly pointed to Fianna Fáil’s electoral success last November, saying he has a mandate to serve as Taoiseach and remain in situ as party leader.
He took aim at several party figures, including John McGuinness, Padraig O’Sullivan, and James O’Connor.
Against Mr McGuinness, the Taoiseach said that while the Carlow-Kilkenny TD wanted to see him gone, he was “quite happy to have me in Kilkenny canvassing” before the 2024 general election.
He described the two as having an “on-off relationship”, while describing Mr McGuinness’ opposition to his leadership as being “consistent”.
Comments made by James O’Connor, comparing Mr Martin to French king Louis XIV, were slammed as being “out of order”, just hours before the two were due to meet in Government Buildings.
The Taoiseach has weathered backbench unhappiness before, with the closest comparisons being to an infamous think-in at the Slieve Russell Hotel in Cavan, which saw a possible heave against Martin defanged.
The risk this time around, however, seems more heightened.
The discontent with the party leader has continued to bubble up since John McGuinness and John Lahart went on RTÉ and claimed that talks were ongoing about Mr Martin’s future leadership of Fianna Fáil.
It has been suggested by multiple party sources that Mr Martin’s days as leader are “numbered”.
One minister suggested that the Taoiseach would “struggle to win” a no-confidence vote, and advised him to avoid such a possibility.
“He's burnt a whole pile of political capital, and has been for a long time,” they said.
“It’s the beginning of the end. How soon that happens, I couldn't tell you.”
Another TD over the weekend was more scathing of Mr Martin, particularly given the handling of the presidential election.
“He might want to disassociate himself from the shambles, but he can’t,” the TD said. “He is at fault… You can’t just say sorry for a €500,000 mistake.”
The real test for Mr Martin in the immediate future will be the party’s postmortem of Jim Gavin’s disastrous presidential election bid.
It isn’t yet clear what the review might throw up, but some kind of reform to how the party handles candidate selection for the presidency is likely.
If the rebellious TDs don’t get the answers they want from the review, or if there appears to be a shifting of the blame, Mr Martin could come under pressure quickly.
If he can make it through the turmoil of the review, questions will still remain over his tenure as Fianna Fáil leader.
Some suggestion has been made of him departing the stage at the end of Ireland’s EU presidency, in January 2027.
It would give a new party leader the space to move into the Taoiseach’s office for a few months, akin to how Simon Harris did before the 2024 election.
The new leader could assert their position and set out their stall as a prospective Government leader when the election arrives.
While the Taoiseach insists he is not going anywhere, what will likely determine whether he actually remains in post is whether anyone acts against him.
The lead contender is Jim O’Callaghan, Fianna Fáil’s minister for justice, who has brought himself back into the frame for the leadership after his performance within the brief since taking up the role earlier this year.
However, he isn’t alone, with names like Dara Calleary and Darragh O’Brien cropping up as possible leadership material.
Micheál Martin will need to tread carefully in the weeks ahead if he wants to fulfil his mandate.
Because it won’t be up to him whether he stays or goes, if he fails to get his TDs back on side.
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