Micheál Martin dismisses ‘silly’ briefings portraying him as a ‘grumpy old man’

By David Young, PA

Micheal Martin has told those behind Fine Gael-attributed briefings describing him as a grumpy old man to “cop on”.

The Fianna Fáil leader suggested the “silly and ageist” lines were being fed to the media by Fine Gael “mandarins” in an attempt to create a point of difference with their party, which is led by the younger Simon Harris, who has claimed to bring a “new energy” to Government.

In an interview with the Sunday Independent, Mr Martin also asserted that he was a “person of substance” and “not a person of soundbites”.

Speaking to reporters in Co Kildare later on Sunday, he denied those remarks were a thinly veiled dig at Mr Harris.

“No, it’s just clearly stating where I am as a politician and have been all my life,” he said.

“And I think there’s a tendency now anything I say is taken by media as a comment on somebody else, whereas actually it’s a comment on my position, my disposition, my approach to politics, which is one of substance.

“In any government department I have served in I’ve always sought to leave a positive legacy.”

Mr Martin said there was a tendency in modern politics towards “headlines” and a “superficial approach”. He said government should instead be about delivery.

Asked about the briefed references to him as “grumpy old man”, he replied: “It’s quite amusing at one level but I would say to people to cop on a bit.

“It’s silly. it’s not something that makes any sense.”