Elaine Loughlin: Martin must watch his back as multiple challenges await

The fact that a not-inconsiderable rump of his own party was willing to go against Martin’s instruction on the ceann comhairle vote this week shows that there are still soldiers within the ranks who are willing to defect.

The election of Independent TD Verona Murphy has paved the way for the formation of a coalition between Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael, and the group of nine non-party TDs who are members of the regional group.

However, Martin must ensure that the mild unhappiness over the vote — a move that effectively saw the position sewn up into a deal that will be done with Independents in the new year — is not allowed to fester.

Outgoing Ceann Comhairle Seán Ó Fearghaíl had hoped that the introduction of a secret ballot in 2016 would allow members to vote in a truly independent manner, as the unsuccessful Sinn Féin candidate Aongus Ó Snodaigh put it: “As a parliamentarian, you are being asked to choose the person you think best suited to hold this high office, which is not in the gift of the Taoiseach of the day.”

While the Wexford TD was elected through a secret ballot, her 76 first-preference votes point to an assumption that at least 20 of the 48 Fianna Fáil TDs did not follow Martin’s recommendation to back her.

It can be assumed that all of her fellow regional Independents gave Murphy their first preference, as did the majority of Fine Gael members, the four members of Independent Ireland, and another handful of Independents who are not aligned to the regional group.

In the immediate aftermath of this week’s vote, there was much joking and speculation about who may have deserted the ranks, with one senior member even discreetly showing some journalists a picture of his ballot paper to prove he had given a first preference to Murphy in line with party wishes. Wicklow-Wexford TD
Malcolm Byrne stopped short of openly declaring he had voted for a candidate that wasn’t Murphy, but did state that he agreed with a number of colleagues that the ceann comhairle should be an independent and fair chair.

His comments came after Murphy told her local radio station that she would continue to advocate for the people of Wexford from the ceann comhairle’s chair.

“In an ideal world we would have preferred a Fianna Fáil nominee for the post of ceann comhairle,” Byrne told RTÉ radio, when asked if he had voted for another candidate.

Riding high on electoral success, with 10 more seats than Fine Gael, the Fianna Fáil leader is under no immediate threat.

He has brought his party from a low ebb in 2011 when Fianna Fáil returned just 20 seats, having lost 57 TDs; he directed them through the hammering that his members took during the recession, and out the other side into confidence and supply and now a second term in power.

However, Martin faces further difficulties in appointing cabinet members and junior ministers in the new year, which will inevitably leave some feeling disappointed and hard done-by.

Outspoken TD John McGuinness, who defied his party leader by putting himself forward for the ceann comhairle position this week, would understandably feel that returning three TDs in his Carlow-Kilkenny constituency should be acknowledged.

However, Jennifer Murnane O’Connor will also be stressing the work she put in to deliver that third seat for Fianna Fáil.

Then there is the return of big names, such as Pat ‘the Cope’ Gallagher, and the promotion of senators including Catherine Ardagh and Erin McGreehan, not to
mention those who were appointed to positions in the last coalition.

The disillusionment and lack of belief in Martin that grew into what almost amounted to a heave just over three years ago could easily be rekindled.

Ahead of the now infamous think-in in the Slieve Russell Hotel, it had been speculated that a list of 15 TDs was primed to back a motion of no confidence in his leadership.

The direction of the party, which was seen as being solely decided upon by Martin and a small cohort of unelected advisers, was cited by many TDs and senators as the reason for the rapid decline in popularity.

In making his pitch for the ceann comhairle position this week, McGuinness made a point that many of the disaffected were stressing across the summer and autumn of 2021.

“Through my years of public service I have seen where the Dáil Chamber can often be sidelined, and I have seen where members can often be sidelined,” he said.

“When members are in government parties they are often referred to as being ‘in government’ and part of the government but actually there are times when the government can be just the cabinet and times when the government can be just the leaders of the groups in that coalition.

“Because of that I believe that this House has to exercise its strength and its caution around all of the changes that have occurred in politics over that time,” he told the Dáil.

Martin now has 48 TDs, some of whom are new to Leinster House and will require mentoring and support.

Others are long-serving politicians who will be anticipating promotion to a limited number of cabinet seats. Being leader is not without its challenges.