Path to Power Micheál Walks the Plank
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Nov 8, 2025 Danny McConnell, Editor of the Business Post, and John Lee, Executive Editor at the Irish Daily Mail, dive into the uncertainty surrounding Micheál Martin's leadership in Fianna Fáil. They discuss the internal party dynamics and the credentials of potential successor Jim O'Callaghan. The conversation also touches on the 'Future 40' report, highlighting failures in infrastructure delivery and a risk-averse attitude post-crash. With tensions rising, the future of the party hangs in the balance as they weigh the implications of leadership change.
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Leadership Crisis And Fault Lines
- Micheál Martin faces the deepest leadership crisis of his 14-year tenure with clear fault lines in Fianna Fáil.
- Around 10 ministers back him, about 8 oppose or waver, and ~30 are impatient and angry about delivery failures.
Perception He’s Finished
- Many in the parliamentary party believe Micheál Martin is politically finished after the Gavin debacle and polling collapse.
- They expect a drawn-out sequence of steps before a formal challenge rather than an immediate confidence motion.
2011 Cowen Meeting Recalled
- John Lee recounts Micheál Martin's 2011 meeting with Brian Cowen urging him to step back as leader but remain Taoiseach.
- That moment led to Cowen's self-confidence motion and a reshuffle that reshaped Fianna Fáil leadership history.
