Jack Chambers

So we offer a stronger platform come the general election.

But I know we've had challenging by-election results in the past where when it comes to the national elections under Micheál Martin's leadership, we've continued to outperform many of the opinion polls and many of the expectations and the commentary in studios like this.

Well, I think if you look at their results, I mean, they had a much bigger reduction in their vote in Dublin Central, for example, that went from about 17% to 11%.

So that was quite a big contraction relative to their general election result.

They had an established senator, someone who was a TD on two previous occasions, a former government minister, who I think had much stronger recognition across the Galway West constituency.

But I think it's, I mean, different parties have different strategies.

And I think, you know, for us, it was about we had two new candidates, two relatively new councillors in both constituencies.

And it's about building for the future.

And I'm confident in the context of the strength of our wider organisation in terms of a future local or general election that we'll be competitive in every constituency.

It's about identifying where we don't have seats.

Dublin Central is a constituency where we have consistently performed poorly in recent elections in both the local and general election.

And it was always going to be an uphill battle and challenge to compete.

And we know voters obviously solidify around those whom they see as likely to win a particular election when it comes to a by-election.

And that's why you saw...

two or three candidates in both constituencies gain a significant vote share was less fragmented than we might see in a general election.

Absolutely not.

I think there's strong and widespread support for his leadership.

And we saw that at the recent Ardèche, the centenary year of our party, where I think there's widespread support for his leadership.

And Micheál Martin was warmly received across both constituencies.

In fact, I was canvassing with him in Dublin Central yesterday.