Speech by Catherine Ardagh TD nominating Micheál Martin as Taoiseach

A Cheann Comhairle,

Is mór an onóir agus an-áthas dom Micheál Martin a ainmniú mar Thaoiseach inniu.

Tá an t-ádh linn mar thír go bhfuil ceannaire socair, stuama agus trócaireach againn. Tá na tréithe seo riachtanach i ról an Taoisigh.

Deputy Micheál Martin has served the Irish people with honour and commitment during his distinguished career.

He has overcome many deep challenges and shown himself to be one of the most important, influential and successful democratic representatives of these times.

He has shown an unwavering belief in the value of working constructively. Of respecting others. Of seeking to solve problems and not to exploit them.

He has shown a command of diverse public issues and the ability to respond to new concerns.

And he has, of course, shown that he has a broad and deep support amongst the Irish people.

Over the years he has paid many visits to my constituency of Dublin South Central. Away from the cameras, he has spent many hours talking at ease with communities about the important issues facing them.

He’s always taken the time not just to listen - but more importantly to engage, to understand and to seek ways to help.

People see the sincerity and the commitment – and as colleagues will confirm he is the same wherever he goes and whoever he is meeting.

This, above all, is what lies at the core of his connection with the Irish people and its role in Fianna Fáil’s success in November’s election.

He has above all demonstrated that he will lead the new government with determination and will strengthen our country’s position in Europe and the world.

Having secured the most votes and the most seats in our free democratic election, he didn’t sit back and expect to be handed the Taoiseach’s office.

No, he showed respect for the mandates of other democratic representatives and led our party in lengthy and detailed negotiations. He succeeded in securing a majority for a new government based on an ambitious programme for moving our country forward.

It is surely the first qualification to serve as Taoiseach that you show the ability to work with others and build cooperation across political lines.

During Micheál Martin’s time as Taoiseach from June 2020 he served our country well at a historically difficult moment.

He took office at the hight of the worst pandemic in modern times – with our hospitals full of patients with a virus we did not know how to prevent or treat and with hundreds of thousands of people unemployed.

He was head of a very uncertain government which many commentators predicted would find it almost impossible to function.

Due in large part to his leadership it was a focused and effective period for government.

Members of that government have confirmed that he operated a policy of working with all ministers and promoting action on policies irrespective of who would claim the credit.

I have heard many stories from ministers, senior and junior, that his door was always open to them and that he would help them overcome obstacles wherever they appeared.

Perhaps the greatest demonstration of his approach to holding high office was seen as he worked tirelessly to secure for Ireland a share of new vaccines which were the key to restoring social and economic life.

In Europe and globally he lobbied other leaders and businesses for Ireland.

Every day he pushed within his government to develop an unprecedented programme which could rapidly distribute the vaccines.

And once he had succeeded in this, he then took his place in the queue along with his fellow citizens.

Ceann Comháirle, it is with full certainty that he has the character, the ability and the determination we need that I have the honour to second the motion that Dáil Éireann nominate Deputy Micheál Martin to the President for appointment as Taoiseach.