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Micheál Martin is an Irish Fianna Fáil politician serving as Taoiseach since January 2025, having previously held the position from 2020 to 2022. Martin served as Tánaiste, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Defence from December 2022 to January 2025. He has been leader of Fianna Fáil since January 2011 and a TD for Cork South-Central since 1989. He previously served as Leader of the Op…
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politics · Taoiseach (2020–2022, 2025–present) · politician · diplomat · foreign minister · also Micheál Martin, Micheal Martin, Martin
Born 16 August 1960 · Q920403
55 published statements · 0 followers
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I actually think it is a measure [of] how far in terms of maturity our entire democratic parliamentary system has come that deputies in our party and other parties will be allowed freedom of conscience on this issue. “When I came out with my statement this month even people who are on the other side said to me, ‘thank you for your candour.’ I hope and in fact I believe we can have a debate based on respect and tolerance, and that we respect each other in this campaign.
“Hearing their evidence it was clear that the present situation created a climate of fear among medical teams with fears that they could face criminal prosecution if they carried out terminations. The scenario these medical teams faced was cruelly inflexible.”
“I actually think it is a measure [of] how far in terms of maturity our entire democratic parliamentary system has come that deputies in our party and other parties will be allowed freedom of conscience on this issue. “When I came out with my statement this month even people who are on the other side said to me, ‘thank you for your candour.’ I hope and in fact I believe we can have a debate based on respect and tolerance, and that we respect each other in this campaign.”
“All the experts we as parliamentarians spoke to over the last few months stated that the identification of the syndrome in 12 weeks of pregnancy is highly unlikely. So it is not a valid argument to use. “The culture of respect in Ireland for people with Down’s syndrome will not change as a result of the repeal of the eighth amendment.”
“What became apparent from listening to these experts was that the eighth amendment cast a cloud over the clinical, professional teams that have to make difficult decisions about crisis pregnancies,”
“After hearing their experiences in the Oireachtas (Irish parliament) and what they had to go through travelling to England for terminations, I realised I could no longer countenance supporting the status quo. He continued: “It has to be the same for the victims of rape and incest who are made pregnant through sexual violence. Just like those women suffering from fatal foetal pregnancies I realised I could not support the status quo for them either.”
“s programme for government was a”
“It is difficult to comprehend the devastation and inhumanity of Russia”
“a permanent and present reality”
“As the leader of the largest party, and as the taoiseach it”
“he would vote in favour of repealing the Eighth Amendment and to allow abortion on request until near the end of the first trimester,”
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Career landmark: Taoiseach (2025).
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Martin described himself as an advocate of free trade and specifically a supporter of EU-wide trade deals such as the CETA agreement with Canada
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Career landmark: Teachta Dála (2024).
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Awarded Order of Prince Yaroslav the Wise, 2nd class (2023).
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As Tánaiste, Martin stated he was "concerned" about the legalisation of cannabis, but expressed his support for decriminalisation
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Martin launched the Consultative Forum on International Security Policy, a 4-day, 3-city conference on the subject of International security, to be held in June
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Jack Sheehan of the Irish Times described Fianna Fáil and Martin by stating "for a decade now, a socially conservative, supposedly republican party has been led by a centrist social liberal with a more cautious position
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Career landmark: Tánaiste (2022–2025).
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Career landmark: Minister for Defence (2022–2025).
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Career landmark: Minister for Foreign Affairs (Ireland) (2022–2025).
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The Journal rated the claim “Taoiseach Micheál Martin has been quoted in The Irish Farmers Journal as saying he is in favour of the reduction of Ireland's national cattle herd” False. There is no evidence for this claim.
Shown as reported and rated by a fact checker, not as an established fact.
Martin expressed openness to changing laws regarding transgender teenagers and self-identification, stating he believed that "we should consult young trans people to hear their views"
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Martin condemned legislation passed in Hungary which prohibited gay people from featuring in educational material, describing it as "unacceptable" and saying a strong response was needed from the European Union
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Career landmark: Taoiseach (2020–2022).
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Career landmark: Teachta Dála (2020–2024).
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Martin voiced his support for a similar referendum in Northern Ireland
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Following discussions by the Citizens' Assembly, it became clear that there would be a referendum on the legality of abortion in Ireland
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Career landmark: Teachta Dála (2016–2020).
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Criticised Fine Gael for plans to cut personal taxation in Ireland to levels seen in the United States
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Was nominated for Taoiseach, but no nominees received enough votes to be nominated as Taoiseach
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Martin supported a Yes vote in the 2015 marriage equality referendum
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Martin clashed with Taoiseach Enda Kenny over the issue of same-sex marriage; Martin needled Kenny in the Dáil to declare a firm position on same-sex marriage and urged him to press ahead with a referendum
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Career landmark: Teachta Dála (2011–2016).
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“s first priority. The 59-year-old Cork native was elected at a special meeting of the Irish parliament in Dublin. He has been the leader of the Fianna Fáil party since 2011. He will lead a three-party coalition consisting of Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and the Green Party. Mr Martin said that to be elected to serve as taoiseach was”
Career landmark: Leader of Fianna Fáil (2011).
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Career landmark: Leader of the Opposition (2011–2020).
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Published his MA thesis as a book: Freedom to Choose: Cork and Party Politics in Ireland 1918–1932
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Martin became the first Irish foreign minister to travel to Latin America, during which time he also made the first official visit to Cuba by any Irish minister
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Career landmark: Minister for Foreign Affairs (Ireland) (2008–2011).
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Career landmark: Teachta Dála (2007–2011).
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During his time as Health Minister, Martin introduced a ban on tobacco smoking in all Irish workplaces, making Ireland the first country in the world to introduce a full workplace smoking ban
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Career landmark: Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment (2004–2008).
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Career landmark: Teachta Dála (2002–2007).
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Career landmark: Minister for Health (Ireland) (2000–2004).
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Martin was appointed Minister for Health and Children
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Career landmark: Minister for Education (Ireland) (1997–2000).
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Career landmark: Teachta Dála (1997–2002).
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Career landmark: Teachta Dála (1992–1997).
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Martin met Mary O'Shea at university; they later married in 1990 and had a total of five children.
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Career landmark: Teachta Dála (1989–1992).
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Was first elected to Dáil Éireann for Cork South-Central, a seat he has represented ever since
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Taoiseach Charles Haughey called a snap election, and Martin was once again added to the Fianna Fáil ticket in Cork South-Central, and on that occasion he secured election to Dáil Éireann
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And served as Lord Mayor of Cork from 1992 to 1993
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Born 1960-08-16.
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All the experts we as parliamentarians spoke to over the last few months stated that the identification of the syndrome in 12 weeks of pregnancy is highly unlikely. So it is not a valid argument to use. “The culture of respect in Ireland for people with Down’s syndrome will not change as a result of the repeal of the eighth amendment.
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