MICHEÁL MARTIN has refused to be drawn on whether he hopes to be promoted to tánaiste or minister for finance when Brian Cowen becomes taoiseach.
Questioned by reporters on a visit to Mitchelstown CBS in Cork yesterday, the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment said: "That's entirely a matter for Brian Cowen. He's his own man and I think he will make his own decision. I have worked well with Brian, we all have over the last number of years.
"I think it's a great privilege to be in a position to serve in politics in any capacity - it's been my great privilege to serve in the Government and the Cabinet and I am available to continue to serve.
"I am certainly not going to be drawn into any speculation that people might have because I think it would very much be idle speculation."
Mr Martin said he believed the fact that Brian Cowen was the unanimous choice of the party reflected how comfortable people in Fianna Fáil were with his political philosophy and his policies as expressed in his three budgets as Minister for Finance.
"I think Bertie Ahern has left a very strong legacy in a party that works collectively and on a consensus basis, which is good for the country, and I'm delighted that Brian Cowen will have the unified and unanimous support of the Fianna Fáil party."
Mr Martin welcomed Mayo TD Beverley Flynn's readmission to the party, saying he believed it was inevitable and that much work had been done with party activists in Mayo to facilitate her return.