Public Expenditure Minister Jack Chambers has stated his belief that Taoiseach Micheál Martin will lead Fianna Fáil into the next general election, directly contradicting internal party speculation about a potential leadership change.
Chambers, who also serves as the deputy leader of Fianna Fáil, expressed his unwavering loyalty and support for Martin, emphasizing that the Taoiseach deserves continued backing. "I support him in doing that. I’m loyal and supportive of him and think he deserves that support in what he brought in the last general election – and indeed the wide public support he has today. So, absolutely," Chambers said in an interview.
This assertion comes despite several other Fianna Fáil cabinet ministers, including prominent figures like Jim O’Callaghan and Darragh O’Brien, reportedly declining to fully endorse Martin's ambition to serve a third term as Taoiseach. Some have alluded to the Taoiseach's timeline for departure after Ireland's Presidency of the EU, a period widely expected within the party to precede an announcement regarding his future leadership.
Chambers acknowledged the significant political damage caused by his role as director of elections for the now-withdrawn presidential bid of former GAA manager Jim Gavin. The campaign's collapse, following revelations of an unpaid debt, led to internal dissent and a backbench revolt within Fianna Fáil. An internal review later indicated that leadership had not adequately followed up on Gavin's denials regarding the dispute. Chambers described the affair as "very difficult, very divisive, very febrile, but also devastating for people in the grassroots and elsewhere who wanted to have a candidate in the ring and then we hadn’t one halfway through the race."
Despite the fallout, Chambers, who has not spoken to Jim Gavin since the campaign, prefers to focus on the future and party unity. He admitted the affair had a negative impact but stressed the importance of being a unified party moving forward. He also pointed to the party's successes in the local and general elections, where Fianna Fáil became the largest party in the Dáil, as evidence of successful strategy execution.
When asked about his own leadership ambitions, Chambers indicated he would consider a future contest if the party deemed him suitable. "I’d weigh it up at the time and assess whether I’m someone the party wants or not," he stated, adding that he approaches his current role with "good faith, honesty and hard work."
Chambers also voiced support for a four-year cycle of income tax cuts for the "squeezed middle," aligning with comments made by Simon Harris. He believes such measures are crucial to reward work and support the economy. Furthermore, he stands by the controversial decision to implement a VAT cut for the hospitality sector, arguing it was essential for protecting jobs, particularly in rural areas, and supporting SMEs.
He also commented on the government's efforts to streamline infrastructure delivery, noting successes in reducing red tape and bureaucracy. "People will see taxpayers’ money translating to real improvements around reducing congestion in people’s daily lives," Chambers vowed, referencing his role in the Accelerating Taskforce aimed at removing bottlenecks in public projects.