I will lead Fianna Fáil into the next election – Martin

By Rebecca Black, Press Association

Taoiseach Micheál Martin has insisted he will lead Fianna Fáil into the next election.

He was also defiant that he “hadn’t seen anything off” in terms of a leadership challenge following a week that saw criticism from Fianna Fáil backbenchers.

On Wednesday, three of the party’s youngest TDs issued a letter criticising the handling of recent fuel price protests, in which they said they viewed “events of the past few weeks with a real and deep concern”.

The sense across the party is very supportive and very warm

This was followed by other party members voicing their disquiet at the Government’s handling of fuel protests and blockades, although on Friday, Cabinet ministers gave their backing to the Taoiseach.

Speaking to the media in Dublin on Sunday, the Taoiseach said he had a mandate and was elected as Fianna Fáil leader just a year and a half ago.

“I will fulfil my mandate and lead into the next set of elections,” he said.

He also insisted he had received a warm reception from his party over the events on Friday and Saturday.

“I was in Mullingar on Friday night, close to 400 grassroots members of the party in our centenary event, and there was a very, very warm and positive reception from the grassroots of the party,” he said.

“Anybody who knows me, any members of the parliamentary party know that I’ve knocked on doors with them on streets, and I have to be very strongly assertive on this point, I’ve been elected in many elections, I’m very connected to people…

“I’m on the ground almost permanently, on a seven day a week basis, and I will continue to engage with my parliamentary party, we continue to seek new ways to broaden and structure engagement better.

“The sense across the party is very supportive and very warm.”

Pressed further, Martin said he was first elected in 1989 and has a “fair idea of tough times”.

“We have a war situation in the Middle East, which has created a lot of pressure on families and on people,” he said.

“I think our role and our objective is to seek ways to try and structurally alleviate the pressures on people because I think we have to accept the fact that there will be perhaps further shocks, we hope that the dialogue will continue in the Middle East and we get a resolution and an end to the war.”