Cabinet ministers seen as possible successors to Micheál Martin pledge support for Taoiseach

MINISTERS WHOSE NAMES are in the mix to become the successor to Micheál Martin have pledged support for the Taoiseach

Yesterday, those in the camps of Ministers Jim O’Callaghan, Dara Calleary and Darragh O’Brien said no moves were being orchestrated agains the current leader. 

In a statement from Calleary today about whether he would back a motion of no confidence in Martin, he said:

“No, I would not support a no confidence motion in Micheál Martin’s leadership of Fianna Fáil.

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“I have confidence in the Taoiseach, I have confidence in the Government and I have confidence in the Irish people.

“What we need now, in the face of extraordinary global uncertainty, is stability and a continued focus on the challenges facing people across the country.”

Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration Jim O’Callaghan said he “backs the Taoiseach and would not support a motion of no confidence in him”.

It is understood O’Brien also had no interest and is instead focused on his role as the Minister for Transport and Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment. 

The heat had come out of the attempted ‘heave’ against the party leader yesterday, with a number of ministers speaking out in support of the party leader. 

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Martin holds 'good discussion' with three TDs as leadership comes under renewed pressure

The focus on the leadership came after three of the party’s youngest TDs – James O’Connor, Albert Dolan and Ryan O’Meara – signed a statement questioning the direction of the party. 

Sources have said senior figures are “extremely annoyed” with the younger TDs for turning the national crisis of the fuel protests last week into a Fianna Fáil crisis. 

Speaking to reporters in Berlin yesterday, the Taoiseach said he didn’t feel his leadership was under threat “in any way shape or form”. 

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