COMMENT: In defense of beleaguered Taoiseach Michéal Martin

Micheál Martin must surely be baffled by the way his political fortunes have changed since fulfilling his dream of becoming Taoiseach last June.

It has turned into somewhat of a nightmare experience due to a catalogue of well-documented setbacks which started on the very first day of his appointment.

Now facing an internal threat to his party leadership, he portrays the image of a man beset by anxiety over where the next trapdoor is going to open in front of him or, more likely, behind his back.

It's an unenviable position in which the leader of this country finds himself at a time of huge national crisis.

With respect to the position he holds, however, he deserves to be cut some slack by his critics.

The challenge of managing a government is hugely stressful at the best of time.

But doing so in the midst of a pandemic is something for which no parliamentarian could have been prepared.

Comparing his performance to that of his predecessor Leo Varadkar during the initial months of the virus is unfair because the mood of the nation is far less tolerant now, not to mention the fact that the main opposition party is as fierce as any Taoiseach has faced in modern times.

It is true that Martin is not as effective a communicator as Varadkar and neither does he share An Tánaiste's level of popularity.

But he has overseen the reopening of schools - a mammoth task in the government’s efforts to restore a level of normality - while the economy is starting to find its feet again due to the return of all businesses, albeit under strict social distancing guidelines.

They were the correct courses of action in revitalising the public’s confidence while the Living with Covid strategy, rolled out until next April, brings greater clarity moving forward.

Regrettably, the recent rise in confirmed Covid cases, associated with an increased level of testing, suggests the onset of a second surge.

Consequently, the semi-locking down of Co. Dublin, which should have happened much earlier, has brought further pressure on Martin and his cabinet.

But the reality is that if the virus can be brought under control in the capital, the tide will turn in Ireland’s favour again in defeating Covid-19.

An Taoiseach's cause has not been helped, either, by events in Westminster where Prime Minister Boris Johnson has lost all reason on Brexit.

It's the kind of distraction Micheál Martin did not need so soon after the Golf Gate scandal and its fallout.

There is no question the Cork man needs a change of luck.

But efforts to chase him out of office at this point, as demonstrated by the stance taken by Galway West TD Eamon Ó Cuív, is badly timed and serves little purpose.

When compared to some of the previous Fianna Fáil holders of An Taoiseach's office, Micheál Martin is a public representative of integrity and honesty who scarcely deserves to be berated at every turn.

At the very least, he should be extended the dignity of carrying out his duties without proverbial daggers being consistently directed at his back.