RESIGNATION:FIANNA FÁIL TD Micheál Martin said he insisted on having his resignation accepted by Brian Cowen after the Taoiseach won last night's vote of confidence.
Despite his decision to resign, Mr Martin said the Taoiseach would have his full support in the general election campaign and he looked forward to welcoming Mr Cowen to his constituency of Cork South-Central.
He said the two men had travelled together in the lift from the fifth floor after the meeting and Mr Cowen had remarked that this level of amicability was unknown in previous internal party disagreements.
In a statement he read out on the plinth at Leinster House, Mr Martin said: “I was not interested in tearing anyone down and I believe we have proven that we can disagree without being destructive.
“We have had a mature and positive debate, leading to a clear resolution. I fully respect the decision of my colleagues and I’m very encouraged by the general spirit of the conversations.
“There is no doubt that we now have a renewed sense of energy and commitment to bringing our message to the people.
“We go into this election as a united party behind our leader. The Taoiseach continues to have my full support as head of Government and I will actively support him as our party leader during the coming campaign,” he said.
“During our discussions at the weekend, myself and the Taoiseach agreed that my immediate resignation might have a destabilising impact on government. However, I was clear that I would insist on my resignation if my views did not prevail in the vote.
“I have therefore tendered my resignation as Minister for Foreign Affairs. It has been an honour to serve as Minister, holding portfolios in education, health, enterprise trade and employment and foreign affairs and to have worked with such dedicated public servants.
“Ireland has a public service of the highest international standard, of which we should be proud,” he concluded.
Asked why he had to resign if the party was so united, he replied: “If you come out as publicly as I did and lead in the manner that I did in a certain direction and have spoken against the Taoiseach, the leader of the party, and cast a vote against him in a vote of confidence, that is incompatible with staying in an office.”
Mr Martin said his resignation was “the honourable thing to do”.
Asked if he still aspired to lead Fianna Fáil, he said: “The immediate priority is to work with the party to achieve as many seats as we possibly can in the next general election. The matter as far as I am concerned is now resolved.”
Asked if more members of the Cabinet should have spoken out, he replied: “It is a matter for each individual member of Cabinet to approach a motion like this in the manner that they see fit and I didn’t solicit support from Cabinet members, I have too much respect for them in that sense.”
Earlier, Mr Martin said the handling of the International Monetary Fund’s arrival last November was “one of the defining moments that changed my mind” about Mr Cowen’s leadership.
“The presentation of the IMF coming into the country, that to me was a watershed moment.”
