Martin’s Covid shows how Taoiseach can’t buy a break

World of Politics with Harry McGee

Micheál Martin has not had the best run of luck as Taoiseach – assuming the position in the midst of Covid with a brand new model of co-government with Fine Gael. It took him the best part of a year to assert himself and to get widespread public acceptance as the undisputed Taoiseach of the country.

As the Covid worries eased, Martin’s confidence seemed to be on the rise, as were his approval ratings. The Government began to finally focus on other things, including long-term projects and the climate change project. Housing and health remained a stone in the shoe but both issues will require long-term solutions – but now they were back as the acid test of Government performance rather than getting through Covid.

Talk also turned to Martin defying the expected narrative that his career would end with the ending of his time as Taoiseach on December 31 2022.

Ever since his election as Fianna Fáil leader in 2010, his demise has been predicted. It was said he would be the first Fianna Fáil leader never to become Taoiseach. That did not come to pass – if only by the skin of his teeth.

Then there were doubts about how he would do as Taoiseach. He had a very fitful start and was often outflanked by Leo Varadkar. The constant refrain of long-time internal critic (now out of the parliamentary party) Marc MacSharry was that “Leo is running rings around you.” It stuck for much of the first year of his term.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.

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