Taoiseach Leadership Under Continued Pressure

Thursday, 16 April 2026 15:51

By Daniel Maher

Micheál Martin has been under pressure, after backbenchers criticised the Government's response to last week's fuel protests

Taoiseach Martin has been facing pressure from some of his backbenchers, who have criticised the Government's response to last week's fuel protests.

Kildare South TD Seán Ó Fearghaíl, TD Paudie O’Sullivan and Senator Anne Rabbitte have written to the party chair asking for an urgent meeting to be convened, to discuss the future of Fianna Fáil and its leadership.

It follows three younger TDs – Cork East’s James O’Connor, Galway East’s Albert Dolan and Tipperary North’s Ryan O’Meara – who indicated “real and deep concern” with the Government’s response to the protests in a statement yesterday.

The TDs had called for trust to be restored in the party

Higher Education Minister and Kildare North TD James Lawless, says it's healthy for the younger TDs to speak up.

Taoiseach Micheál Martin says he isn't feeling the pressure "in any way, shape or form" while also acknowledging the pressure on families amid rising fuel costs due to the war in the Middle-East.

Meanwhile, Sinn Fein says the energy crisis continues to punish people, and it's accusing the Government of "still not getting it".

TD Pearse Doherty says the coalition is expecting a "pat on the back" for its postponement of the increased carbon tax.

Tanáiste Simon Harris once again dismissed the idea of fuel caps, saying that they "transfer the cost from the forecourt to the taxpayer" and has "would cost many, many billions".