Going first has its benefits, but Martin will find drawbacks too
THE agreement to let Micheál Martin have the first stint in the Department of the Taoiseach was agreed some time ago. The argument from Martin’s side was simple – Fianna Fáil won more seats, albeit marginally, than Fine Gael.
Martin’s team also insisted he was entitled to the first term in the rotation deal because he was the only political leader seeking to form a government after the election.
They also said he represented a form of change, or at the very least he’s not a Fine Gael leader.
Leo Varadkar accepted early on in the negotiations that he would step aside to make room for the Fianna Fáil leader in the Taoiseach’s Office.
Fianna Fáil was concerned about getting its members to support a government deal which would lead to Varadkar returning to the top job.
Going into government with Fine Gael is difficult for many Fianna Fáil members, especially after Martin insisted he wouldn’t do a deal with the old enemy during the election.
Giving him the office first was also aimed at softening up the membership to the grand coalition plus one deal.
Martin going first also suits those in his party who harbour ambitions of replacing him should he decide to step aside after his two and a half years running the country but there are no guarantees he will.
It will be interesting to see if he will start coming under the same type of pressure exerted on Enda Kenny to set out his departure date after the 2016 General Election.
While going first has its benefits, it also has its drawbacks.
Over the coming years, the new government is planning to borrow heavily from the international markets and pump it all into major infrastructure projects.
If you’re willing to get your hands dirty there should be a job or at least an apprentice scheme available to you.
Houses will be popping up all over the place along with new roads, cycle ways and pedestrian footpaths.
Although he regularly jeered at Fine Gael for its ribbon-cutting photographs, Martin will now be happy to show up in his hard hat and hi-vis vest to launch new developments.
And, if he doesn’t show up, you can be sure his ministers and TDs will.
On Monday evening, Martin told his parliamentary party he would not become distracted by the trappings of office and will ensure the Fianna Fáil organisation is rebuilt ahead of the next election.
If Martin is leading it or not, Fianna Fáil is going into the next election as a junior partner in government, no matter how many seats it holds.
Varadkar is not happy with being demoted from office after serving three years as Taoiseach but his team believe it is the best option for the party.
The job of governing the country may become more difficult in the second half of the new government’s term when it tries to reduce the massive deficit created after years of borrowing. But fiscal prudence comes as second nature to Fine Gael and it will be happy to cut the national debt or at least try to in the face of opposition from the Green Party.
However, the main benefit for it going into the next vote will be the fact that it holds the Taoiseach’s Office.
The new government is a partnership of equals between Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael with everything divided up equally.
But there is no getting away from the fact that the Taoiseach’s Office is where power resides and it is a major benefit to hold the office going into the next election.
However, there is a risk that once Martin leaves office, Fianna Fáil TDs will feel less obliged to prop up Varadkar and Fine Gael. Some have even begun talking about “causing a row” and forcing an election in early 2023.
But then again they might all get along famously.
People didn’t believe the confidence and supply deal would last more than six months and it lasted four years.