Martin says he will lead Fianna Fáil into next election

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Taoiseach Micheál Martin has confirmed he will contest the next General Election and insisted he will lead Fianna Fáil into the campaign.

Taoiseach Micheál Martin has confirmed he will contest the next General Election and insisted he will lead Fianna Fáil into the campaign.

The Cork South Cental TD was speaking as he arrived for the second day of major international discussions at Dublin's Convention Centre with an informal meeting of EU leaders, following yesterday's European Political Community gathering.

Mr Martin piqued interest within his parliamentary party when asked of his political future on RTÉ's Morning Ireland programme yesterday.

He said he would "fulfil his mandate as Taoiseach", but initially demurred from giving a commitment to lead Fianna Fáil into the next General Election.

That gave rise to suggestions in Leinster House that his tenure at the helm of Fianna Fáil may end around the time his party must accede the Taoiseach's office to Fine Gael as part of the Coalition Government's arrangement.

However, Mr Martin, first elected to the Dáil in 1989, scotched such an idea when asked on his way into today's summit.

"That's rubbish," he said, "I will be contesting the next General Election and I will be leading Fianna Fáil into the next General Election."

Speaking yesterday, Mr Martin indicated "people would be assuming wrong" if yesterday marked his final meeting of the European Political Community as leader.

"I'm going to fulfil my mandate as Taoiseach. I'm focused on the issues - Europe and the world is in a very difficult space. Ireland is navigating this turmoil, this global instability as resiliently as we possibly can and that's where the focus has to be. And domestically, we have big issues such as housing, disability and in terms of the infrastructure needs of the country," he said.

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