Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

In fact, today, no Opposition party, large or small, has a leader who went through a competitive election before assuming the role.

We will have more time during the debate on the nomination of Ministers to discuss substantive policy matters and the range of work which will be our focus during the rest of this Dáil's mandate. We have significant work to do over the next 12 months and we are determined to do it. At this critical moment when we face often dramatic challenges at home and internationally, instead of questioning the democratic legitimacy of this vote, we should be grateful for the fact we have a robust, strong and resilient parliamentary democracy which we should do everything to uphold and support and not undermine.

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