Martin: I don’t care if I’m not popular
I did things that would not have been popular
MICHEAL MARTIN VIRGIN MEDIA TONIGHT
MICHEAL Martin insisted last night he is up to the role of Taoiseach and is prepared to be an unpopular leader.
The Fianna Fail chief is favourite to lead a new government after the deal with Fine Gael and the Greens. But his party and his personal approval ratings have been poor.
He told Virgin Media’s Tonight Show: “It’s not about popularity. In all the ministries I served in, I did things that one might have anticipated, would not have been popular. But I went ahead and did them.”
Mr Martin added he will stay on as party leader to become Tanaiste once Leo Varadkar takes over the rotating role.
He said: “This is a Government for four to five years and the rotation means I would then become Tanaiste and the Tanaiste becomes Taoiseach. That’s the way it would work out and that’s important in terms of the cohesion, durability and solidity of the government.
“These decisions we take now and in the next year, will have to sustain over the next four to five years.”
Mr Martin denied the property tax will increase and revealed the existing public service pay agreement would be honoured.
He told host Ivan Yates: “The current agreement will be fulfilled. However, we will seek to negotiate a new agreement but that will be in the context of challenging economic figures.
“The No1 priority from now on has to be the restoration of jobs.”