TAOISEACH MICHEÁL MARTIN was on the defensive during Leaders’ Questions as he criticised opposition party leaders for how they responded to last week’s fuel protests.

Martin did not mince his words in his comments to Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald, Labour leader Ivana Bacik and Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns. 

He told McDonald that he was “extremely disturbed” that she did not have “the courage of her convictions or the decency to separate what is right from wrong” in relation to the behaviour of some fuel protesters. 

“You cannot say that it’s wrong to blockade ports, even though it would destroy our economy. You can’t say it’s wrong to intimidate bus drivers. You haven’t the courage. You’re weak as a political party,” he said. 

In response to the Taoiseach, McDonald said she condemns all forms of intimidation. 

“And anybody who has known me in any part of my life knows that I may lack many things, I do not lack courage. I do not lack courage,” the Sinn Féin leader said. 

Sinn Féin used their Leaders’ Questions slot today to highlight poor standards in social housing provided by Dublin City Council and to criticise the Council’s decision to increase rent for tenants. 

Responding to McDonald, the Taoiseach pointed out that his party does not control Dublin City Council, with 8 Fianna Fáil seats currently held out of 60. 

He said “I know the by-election is coming” and that it was “dishonest” and “disingenuous” to suggest Dáil Éireann runs County or City Councils. 

‘Sidling up to Sinn Féin’

Meanwhile, Labour leader Ivana Bacik used her party’s slot to call for the introduction of a national fuel security plan, one which would help tackle emissions and bring prices down.

In response, the Taoiseach said he would welcome a conversation on possible measures in health and transport that could help “ease the pressure on people”. 

He said he thinks Bacik has a “responsible approach to politics” but then accused her of being “noticeable by your silence” during last week’s protests.

“I think you got a glimpse of what sidling up to Sinn Féin can mean for your party and the damage it can do to you in the time ahead,” the Taoiseach said, adding that Labour chose not to go into Government after the last general election. 

“That’s fair enough. That’s your decision. And you opted not to go into government because you were afraid of people outside,” he said, over heckles from the Labour benches.

In response, Bacik accused the Taoiseach of attempting to “rewrite history” both in relation to Labour’s actions last week and in relation to the government formation talks, which Labour took part in in 2025. 

“As you well know, you had done the deal with the Lowry gang and the Healey-Raes before the engagement with us. And indeed that team is now unravelling,” Bacik said.

She added that she put out a statement last Wednesday calling for the blockade to end and for the Government to engage with representative organisations. 

“We had a very clear position,” she said. 

Related Reads

Danny Healy-Rae says he had no 'influence' on his brother Michael's resignation from Government

Gary Gannon: This government is out of touch, out of answers and out of time

‘Deficit of empathy’

Meanwhile, Social Democrats leader Holly Cairn was also accused of lacking courage by the Taoiseach today. 

Similar to what he said to McDonald, he said it was “disturbing” that Cairns does not “have the courage of your conviction” to call out some of the behaviour from some of the protesters last week. 

This came after Cairns called for targeted home heating supports for households and accused the Taoiseach of “a lack of foresight” and a “deficit of empathy” in relation to his failure to predict last week’s protests and in relation to his handling of them. 

“The cost of simply existing in this country is growing and growing and growing, and it is crushing people. There is no let up, no relief, and little to no help from government.

“That is why people were on the streets last week,” Cairns said.

Meanwhile, Independent Ireland TD Ken O’Flynn called for the Government to reverse the ban on new oil and gas exploration in Ireland. 

The Taoiseach said he would not.