LAST UPDATE | 11 Nov 2025

EU COMMISSIONER MICHAEL McGrath has given Micheál Martin his full-throated backing to stay on as leader of Fianna Fáil, insisting he fully expects his former constituency rival to remain as Taoiseach throughout Ireland’s presidency of the EU in the second half of next year – and beyond.

His comments to reporters in Brussels this afternoon come in the context of continued discontent over Martin’s leadership within some sections of the parliamentary party.

On-again-off-again efforts to mount some kind of heave have been ongoing since Jim Gavin’s presidential campaign collapsed in dramatic circumstances just over a month ago.

An internal review of the failed presidential bid was due to be published tomorrow. It emerged in recent days, however, that the report will not be ready in time.

McGrath, once seen as a rival for the leadership himself, was named as Ireland’s European commissioner last summer. His current role at the EU executive takes in democracy, justice, the rule of law and consumer protection. He’s set to unveil a new suite of measures tackling election interference and countering disinformation in a major announcement tomorrow.

The former finance minister, who remains a member of Fianna Fáil but is no longer part of the parliamentary party, said he had spoken briefly with Martin before the FAI Cup Final at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin on Sunday.

“Look, it’s been a very difficult few weeks for him and indeed for his family as well no doubt – but I have full faith in his resilience and his ability to come through this period,” McGrath said.

Asked if he supported Martin remaining on as Taoiseach for Ireland’s six month EU presidency, he said the Fianna Fáil leader had “an extraordinary level of experience and knowledge” that would be beneficial for the role.

He said the presidency was an important moment and that Ireland’s tenure would come “at a crucial time in the negotiation of the next EU budget” and in the advancing of issues around security and defence.

“And I know that the Irish presidency, in their preparations for next year, are very open to placing an emphasis on EU values, on democracy and rule of law, and on areas that are core to my portfolio within the commission.”

He said there would be “lessons learned” from the review into the Áras campaign, acknowledging that what transpired “resulted in a very limited choice for the voter”.

The episode, he insisted, “doesn’t undo fourteen years of very strong leadership and of delivery by Micheál Martin as leader of the party”.

As part of the coalition deal struck after last year’s election Martin is scheduled to stay on as Taoiseach until November 2027 before switching out for Simon Harris, or whoever is in charge of Fine Gael at that point.

In his comments today, McGrath said that he had had “the great honour” of working with Martin closely for most of his time at the helm of the party “and I think he will know himself when it is time to depart, and I don’t anticipate that that will be anytime soon”.

He added: “I would certainly expect him to provide the leadership over the period ahead that the country will need in the context of the EU presidency and beyond.”

McGrath has been heading up a new EU initiative aimed at protecting democratic institutions and elections from the threat of foreign interference and manipulation. The suite of measures, known as the European Democracy Shield, is set to be officially unveiled tomorrow.

It’s expected the plan will contain specific measures to tackle issues like deepfakes and disinformation campaigns by authoritarian regimes – Russia in particular. It’s also expected there will be actions to support fact-checking and independent media – including the establishment of a European network of fact-checkers.

Full details of the plan will be announced tomorrow.