Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin has re-iterated to rebuilding the party and leading it back into government.
The Cork deputy has even discussed the prospect of Fianna Fail taking power in the next election.
Martin made the comments in an interview with the Irish Independent newspaper.
He told the paper that he will stay in charge of Fianna Fail for a decade and oversee the revitalisation of the party after its decimation at the last election.
With support for Fianna Fail now back to over 20 per cent in the opinion polls, Martin did discuss a possible return to power in the interview.
With Fianna Fail now the second most popular party in Ireland again, that view is in contrast to the belief that some members hold that FF needs two terms out of office to rebuild.
Martin told the Irish Independent that the task of rebuilding Fianna Fail was a 10-year project and that he intended to see the job through.
He said: “I made this commitment at the outset when I took over the leadership of the party.” the Cork South-Central TD said.
Martin also said that rebuilding the party would not be hindered by his leading it back into government.
He firmly ruled out appointing a deputy leader to replace Eamon O Cuiv.
Martin said: “I may lead Fianna Fail into power after the next election” but that he won’t be making any reckless promises like Labour did before the last election.
“I’m not going to do that for the next election. Likewise, I won’t be making reckless comments and commitments either but the point is that after the election, if political parties are engaging or discussing, we would be issue-based and policy-based – we will then decide the best route for us to implement our policies.”
Asked if he saw himself leading the party back into power, Martin said: “I may, I may not; it’s not my driving ambition at this particular point in time.
“I want to create a political party that’s different, that approaches politics in a different way, in a serious way, in terms of the issues, how we raise them, endeavouring to be constructive.”
The paper reports that Martin also rejected the suggestion that going back into office would get in the way of rebuilding the party.
He added: “Not necessarily, that’s all hypothetical. Firstly, we’ve decided we’d have a conference before we ever decided to go into government with other parties.
“Secondly, it has to be issues-based and policy-based. There have to be red lines for Fianna Fail.
“There was a tendency in the past, when other parties were coalescing with Fianna Fail, they had red-line issues and it’s as if Fianna Fail was absorbing all of that.
“Fianna Fail will have its core issues going into the campaign, coming out of the campaign and it’s not a question of just making up numbers and getting into power or anything like that.”
Martin told the paper that this did not mean the party was preparing to be the junior coalition partner in any government.
He said: “Not necessarily - sure we don’t know. There’s a lot of volatility out there. The volatility isn’t over. Politics is at a very low ebb now in terms of public perception.
“People are angry with the political system. They’re very annoyed that no change has happened to the political system. They actually believed all parties had signed on for radical change.”
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.Will Hamilton | Jan 04, 2013, 02:19 PM EST
Considering the record of Mr Martin's gang for incompetence, corruption and spineless forelock tipping to the Roman church he should be afraid to go outside alone. A good number of his former government colleagues should be strung up on trees instead of being paid bloated pensions from the public purse. Unfortunately Ireland as a whole is populated by a people so disillusioned by independence and so lacking in political choice they might well vote Mr. Martin's gombeen gang back in. That's the problem in Ireland: no matter who you vote for all you get is an incompetent gombeen clown out to feather his own nest.
cillowen | Dec 30, 2012, 06:39 PM EST
i can't bear to even look at this weasel - what's wrong with paddies and bridgets voting for another zero.
Searlit | Dec 30, 2012, 03:07 PM EST
Here's an idea for Mr. Martin. Evaluate the people in all the parties based on their votes cast that help the most people in Ireland. Then talk to those people about forming a new party.
Towngate | Dec 30, 2012, 07:42 AM EST
Michael deserves credit for not deserting the party like the other Party rats did,rather than face the electorate. His best hope is to Found a new party,drawing honestly on the lessons of the past disasterous policies. ~~~ The right wing and agricultural voters are just waiting for a respectable choice!
angrypaddy | Dec 30, 2012, 12:33 AM EST
Stupid typo in last comment
angrypaddy | Dec 30, 2012, 12:31 AM EST
Is it possible that people are that stupit ???When i left Ireland 30 years ago it was in real bad shape real bad. To day its a sham I became a U.S. citizen in '98Ireland today is only a bad dream in my past Let the vultures choke on its carcus
AndrewSB49 | Dec 29, 2012, 01:08 PM EST
Not a chance Meehaul. Fianna Fail will never be allowed to hold power in Ireland ever again. Any party that aligns itself with your toxic brand will also be infected. Face facts, Meehaul, Fianna Fail betrayed Ireland and can never be forgiven.