'I’m not that kind of person': Taoiseach rejects 'top-down' comments as hurtful

Taoiseach Micheál Martin has rejected criticism from Fianna Fáil backbenchers that he is a “top-down” leader, and he has said comments likening him to French king Louis XIV are “hurtful”.

Denying that he had put pressure on parliamentary party members to select Jim Gavin as the Fianna Fáil presidential candidate, Mr Martin said it was not his way to tell people what to do.

“Politics isn’t like that in the modern era, it’s never been my style, I engage with people,” he said.

“I’ve canvassed every constituency with the TDs of the parliamentary party and with senators, I’ve knocked on doors up and down the country, I go down and meet people in their constituencies, I’m not a top-down person, I reject that assertion.” 

Speaking on RTÉ Radio 1’s Today with Claire Byrne on Thursday morning, Mr Martin, who has led Fianna Fáil for 14 years, said he did not think Cork East TD James O’Connor should have likened him to Louis XIV, the Sun King whose 72-year reign was the longest of any monarch.

“I don’t think it reflects Micheál Martin, I don’t think it reflects me as a person,” the Taoiseach said.

“Those kind of hurtful comments are unacceptable in my view.

"I’m not that kind of person, I’ve always engaged, and I’m a phone call away from any TD or senator, always have been.” 

He said that since he had taken over the leadership in 2011, “when the party was on its knees”, he had worked with TDs and senators.

Mr Martin has come under increasing pressure since the party’s disastrous presidential election, which saw Mr Gavin withdraw from the campaign but remain on the ballot, eventually receiving 7% of the vote.

A number of TDs are believed to be considering a motion of no confidence in Mr Martin’s leadership.

The Taoiseach conceded that “in hindsight” Ireland South MEP Billy Kelleher might have made a stronger presidential candidate than Mr Gavin, but he would have preferred if Mr Kelleher had come forward sooner.

“Remember, no one had come forward prior to about late August from within the parliamentary party,” he said.

“I would have preferred if he had rung me to say ‘I’m interested’, and that did not happen.” 

He declined to confirm whether it had been his deputy leader, public expenditure minister Jack Chambers, who had initially suggested Mr Gavin as a candidate.

“No one gets it right all the time, I’ve accepted responsibility for this,” Mr Martin said.

On the possibility of former taoiseach Bertie Ahern running, Mr Martin said such a campaign would have brought up issues raised in the Mahon tribunal.

“We know the nature of presidential campaigns, and I don’t know why he would have brought that upon himself,” Mr Martin said, adding that he hadn’t detected any groundswell of support for Mr Ahern.

Asked about his party’s current standing at 17% in opinion polls, Mr Martin said that in 140 opinion polls prior to last November’s general election, Fianna Fáil had languished in third place.

“Fianna Fáil emerged the largest party after the last general election,” he said.