Fianna Fáil’s by-election collapse exposes bigger problem: what does the party stand for?

Bertie Ahern's transactionalism is spoken about in reverential terms, his teams keeping track of every representation so that it could be sold back to the constituent at election time

A file photo of former taoiseach Bertie Ahern and current Fianna Fáil leader and Taoiseach Micheál Martin in 2025. File picture: Niall Carson/PA

And so another week that has prompted soul-searching for Fianna Fáil.

As results rolled in from Dublin Central, it became clear that the party was going to suffer its worst result in the constituency ever.