Michael Martin has instructed individuals responsible for briefings attributed to Fine Gael to “cop on” since he is a cranky old guy.
In an effort to establish a point of contrast with their party, which is led by the younger Simon Harris, who has asserted that he brings a “new energy” to Government, the Fianna Fáil leader said the “silly and ageist” statements were being fed to the media by Fine Gael “mandarins,” reports Breaking News.
Mr. Martin also claimed to be a “person of substance” and “not a person of soundbites” in an interview with the Sunday Independent.
He disputed that the comments were a thinly veiled jab at Mr. Harris when he spoke to media in County Kildare later on Sunday, reports Breaking News.
He said, “No, it’s just stating where I am as a politician and have been all my life.”
And I believe there is a propensity these days for the media to interpret everything I say as a criticism of someone else, when in fact it is a critique of my attitude, personality, and substantive approach to politics.
“In any government department I have served in I’ve always sought to leave a positive legacy,” reports Breaking News.
According to Mr. Martin, contemporary politics have a propensity for “headlines” and a “superficial approach.” Instead, he added, government should focus on delivery.
He said, “It’s quite amusing at one level but I would say to people to cop on a bit,” when asked about the reported allusions to him as a “grumpy old man.”
It’s absurd. It doesn’t make any sense at all, reports Breaking News.
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