Louise Burne: Taoiseach feeling the heat in Angola — and within Fianna Fáil
Taoiseach Micheal Martin: '“I do think we need to question agendas, question why a small minority are saying things. There isn't substance to that.'. Picture: Henry Nicholls/PA
Former taoiseach Brian Cowen once infamously referred to the Department of Health as "Angola".
He was referring to the amount of undetonated political landmines in the department. To give him credit, nothing has changed.
Micheál Martin, Cowen’s successor as Fianna Fáil leader, appears to be facing political landmines both in Ireland and Angola as pressure on his leadership continues to grow.
Usually, people tread carefully when they think there may be a landmine. But despite the leadership landmines stacking up thick and fast, the Taoiseach has been tackling them head-on.
Even while on the other side of the world, Mr Martin cannot avoid questions about his leadership.
There has been a bloodlust in the party since its disastrous presidential election campaign.
Initial anger focused on Mr Martin not telling TDs, senators, and MEPs what the process for picking a candidate would be.
This turned into fury when former Dublin football manager Jim Gavin was brought into the fold and publicly backed by Mr Martin and deputy leader Jack Chambers, while their long-term colleague, Cork MEP Billy Kelleher, expressed an interest in running.
This turned into an unstoppable fury when Mr Gavin pulled out of the race for failing to tell the party about issues with a tenant, leading to questions about what vetting process was or was not completed by Fianna Fáil.
This anger has continued to bubble in recent weeks, with members suggesting Mr Martin’s time as leader is limited.
The review of the presidential election was expected on Wednesday, November 12. The party was told that day that the review would be delayed. The Taoiseach’s interview for the review took place the following day.
At the time, members of the parliamentary party told the that Mr Martin was travelling a lot, and they believed this may have impacted his input into the review.
Since becoming Taoiseach in January, Mr Martin has travelled abroad on 20 occasions. Most recently, this included going to Brazil for Cop30 in early November. He left Angola on Monday evening, after a brief venture to Johannesburg, where he arrived on Friday.
He defended this travel yesterday, insisting that “international engagement matters, for God’s sake”.
Then, without naming names, he had a cut off members of his parliamentary party.
“I'm just intrigued by it all,” he mused.
“I do think we need to question agendas, question why a small minority are saying things. There isn't substance to that.
“At the last parliamentary party meeting, the review committee told the party the timeline [for the presidential review].
The Taoiseach suggested the media needed to question the agenda and motives behind some of the things being said. When pushed, he confirmed that he meant members of his parliamentary party.
We know what the agenda is — they want him gone.
Far from avoiding landmines, Mr Martin could have been stepping on many while making those comments. However, despite an initial belief that the so-called rebels would be outraged, they seemed nonplussed.
Despite it being a shot across the bows, none responded, once again proving why Mr Martin has been able to withstand every storm.
But the questions about his leadership loom so large that they are chasing him across continents.
As he leaves the sweltering 30C heat of Angola to return home to much colder and bearable climes, he is likely to face an even icier reception when he enters the confines of the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party room tomorrow.
Because just as Micheál Martin played a role in forcing Brian Cowen out, people are waiting on the sidelines to do the same to him.
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