Micheal Martin: podcast appearances and interviews

Micheál Martin is an Irish politician and member of Fianna Fáil who has served as Taoiseach since January 2025. He previously held the same position from 2020 to 2022 and served as Tánaiste, Minister for Foreign Affairs, and Minister for Defence from December 2022 to January 2025. Martin has been the leader of Fianna Fáil since January 2011 and has represented Cork South-Central as a Teachta Dála since 1989. His political career includes serving as Leader of the Opposition from 2011 to 2020 and holding various cabinet offices under successive Irish governments. Born in Cork, Martin initially worked as a teacher before entering politics. He was elected to Cork City Council in 1985 and served as Lord Mayor of Cork from 1992 to 1993. Elected to Dáil Éireann in 1989, he was appointed to the cabinet as Minister for Education and Science following Fianna Fáil's victory in the 1997 general election. He later served as Minister for Health and Children, during which he introduced Ireland's first full workplace smoking ban and established the Health Service Executive. Martin also held the position of Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, and later served as Minister for Foreign Affairs. In 2011, he resigned from his foreign minister role in protest at the leadership of Brian Cowen and subsequently became leader of Fianna Fáil. His leadership saw the party recover from historic losses in the 2011 general election, and under his guidance, Fianna Fáil became the largest party in the Dáil following the 2024 election. As Taoiseach, he has lead a coalition government, including a partnership with the rival party Fine Gael and the Green Party.