Micheál Martin’s fragile hold on control of his party was catapulted back into the spotlight this weekend after a senior minister and Cabinet supporter openly declared his intention to succeed the Taoiseach as Fianna Fáil leader.

Higher Education Minister James Lawless used an extraordinary interview with the Irish Mail on Sunday to state his intention to enter the ‘succession’ race, as the Fianna Fáil Ard Fheis took place this weekend.

His dramatic intervention makes him the fourth Cabinet minister in recent days to declare their leadership intention, despite the Taoiseach’s insistence that he will lead his party into the next general election.

Mr Lawless refused to back Mr Martin’s stated ambition to become a three-time Taoiseach and said he would ‘fly his own flag’ in any contest to replace the leader.

And in comments that have sparked anger among the Fianna Fáil leadership, Mr Lawless quoted a famous Shakespearean line by one of history’s most infamous traitors when alluding to his leader’s ‘time line’ for retirement.

Another senior minister, regarded as a defender of Mr Martin, this weekend said he was ‘furious’ at Mr Lawless’s comments, warning they could ‘destabilise’ the party at a pivotal moment.

When speaking about the ‘succession planning’ he believes is under way in Fianna Fáil, Mr Lawless initially said, ‘I’m not going to get into setting a time line’ for Mr Martin’s departure.

But he added: ‘Look, we all know there comes a “tide in the affairs of men…”’

The barrister will know this is a reference to one of William Shakespeare’s most famous lines, spoken by Brutus to Cassius after the conspirators have murdered Julius Caesar.

The lines, ‘There is a tide in the affairs of men/Which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune’ are an exhortation to take an opportunity, particularly at a change of political leadership, at the right moment.

Ministerial allies of Mr Martin were also angry yesterday at ‘reckless’ statements from other leadership contenders recently.

These included comments made by succession favourite, Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan who, in reference to Seán Lemass’s long wait to succeed Eamon de Valera as leader, told The Indo Daily podcast: ‘I’d say Lemass was waiting for years – like, would de Valera ever move on? You know, he was there a very, very long time.’

Speaking at his office in Government Buildings this week, Mr Lawless spoke at length about the abortive presidential campaign of former Dublin GAA manager Jim Gavin last year.

Mr Lawless admitted the affair was damaging to the party. He also noted Mr Martin had apologised for his part in the events, at a four-and-a-half-hour meeting of the parliamentary party to discuss the report into the debacle.

Asked why Mr Martin did not resign, the Kildare North TD said: ‘I think a strong leader makes mistakes, learns from them and moves on. Not everything is a resigning matter.’

Asked why, if Mr Martin’s errors over Jim Gavin’s botched candidacy were not ‘a resigning matter’, he and other ministers are being ‘asked about their ambitions for leadership’, he said: ‘I think in any organisation you have succession planning, and you have generational change. 

'That’s normal and natural. 

'The party has had a good couple of elections [during Mr Martin’s tenure], and inevitably, I suppose, part of leadership is actually succession and looking at the next generation coming behind.

‘And I suppose the Taoiseach has done that. He’s promoted new people to Cabinet, including me, including Jack [Chambers], including, indeed, Dara Calleary, James Browne – we’re all new to Cabinet. Jim [O’Callaghan] is also new to the table.’

Pressed on how a succession plan could be in place, given Mr Martin’s repeated insistence that he plans to lead the party into the next general election, Mr Lawless replied: ‘I think that the Taoiseach, as someone who has led the party for 14 years at this stage, who is now Taoiseach of the nation and leader of the party...’

When it was put to Mr Lawless that Mr Martin has actually been leader of Fianna Fáil for 15 years, since February 2011, he continued: ‘Okay, still a long way off de Valera’s record. 

'I think that was 33 years. But look, I think we owe him the respect. 

'I’m not going to get into setting a time line or whatever or speculating about his time line. But look, we all know there comes a “tide in the affairs of men…”’

Despite the veiled Shakespearean warning, Mr Lawless insisted he is ‘not predicting’ when Mr Martin will stand down, and that he is ‘not wishing for it to come any time soon’.

He added: ‘I think the natural order of every leadership position is that at some stage it moves on to the next generation. And that’s what…’

When it was put to Mr Lawless that Mr Martin, who will be 66 years old in August, could be 69 by the next election and would have served as leader for almost 19 years by then, he would only say: ‘I suppose I’m busy doing my part of being part of the leadership team as a senior Cabinet minister, now very privileged to be one. And I’ve a busy department to run.’

Asked if he is interested in being part of the ‘succession’ planning he said is under way, Mr Lawless said: ‘We all have ambitions. My ambition, for a long time, was to serve in the ministerial ranks, and I’m delighted to have achieved that. 

'I had a short stint in Transport as the Minister of State, which I greatly enjoyed, a really interesting department. 

'And then I was appointed by the Taoiseach as a Cabinet minister, and I’m conscious I’m only in my second year in that role. I do have a job of work to do...this goes on.’

He said that, when the leadership contest gets under way, he will consider his next move.

‘If there’s a contest under way, I’d have to give it serious consideration and listen to what colleagues around me encourage me to do, or otherwise. But I think that’s a little bit off at this stage.’

Several Fianna Fáil TDs agitating for a change of leader believe Mr Lawless would support succession favourite Mr O’Callaghan.

But when asked if he saw the Justice Minister as a better potential leader, he replied: ‘I think any politician has to fly their own flag.’

Though he has not faced a motion of confidence, the Taoiseach has repeatedly had to fend off questions about his leadership.

In one week, recently, in the wake of the fuel blockades, seven members of the parliamentary party, including former minister Willie O’Dea and ex Ceann Comhairle Seán Ó Fearghaíl, issued critical statements.

Meanwhile, several senior Fianna Fáil ministers have declared their credentials in recent days.

On Wednesday, when asked about his leadership ambitions on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland, Social Protection Minister Dara Calleary – who resigned from Mr Martin’s Cabinet in 2020 over the Golfgate scandal, – said: ‘I will not consider it until there’s a vacancy.’

Asked if people suggested him as a candidate, he replied: ‘Loads of people do – but I don’t get distracted by it. It is very flattering to be considered; it is very flattering to have the confidence of colleagues – but it is important not to get distracted by either.’

However, polling has long shown Mr O’Callaghan to be the clear favourite to succeed Mr Martin.

The Justice Minister this week said there is no vacancy to lead the party, and he would consider it when the time came.

Referring to attempts by the UK’s recently resigned health minister to overthrow prime minister Keir Starmer, he said: ‘I don’t want to be seen as somebody who is doing a Wes Streeting on it. 

'There is no vacancy at present. Micheál Martin is doing a very good job.’

However, he acknowledged that Mr Martin’s longevity as leader has been much discussed with Fianna Fáil.

Transport Minister Darragh O’Brien has also been tacitly talking up his leadership credentials this week. Speaking on the Business Post Podcast released on Friday, Mr O’Brien insisted: ‘Micheál is absolutely the right man to lead the party right now.’

He added that, while ‘there’s no vacancy right now… if that were to come up I’d have a serious think about it.’

Asked by presenter Daniel McConnell if the party ‘should have a Dublin leader next time around’, he replied: ‘Well, I’m a Dub, so there you go!’