Troy: return as minister ‘my ambition but not my choice’
Robert Troy says that Micheál Martin is aware that he has sights on a return to the ministerial ranks, writes Rodney Farry.
In August 2022, Deputy Troy resigned as minister of state at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment after the news website The Ditch revealed that he had made errors while declaring his property interests.
A report by the Standards in Public Office Commission (SIPO) published last month found that the while the Fianna Fáil TD failed to comply with provisions of the Ethics Act, he had acted in good faith.
Speaking to the Westmeath Examiner, Deputy Tory says he has spoken to his party leader Mr Martin, who will swap his position as tánaiste with Taoiseach Simon Harris tomorrow (Wednesday) when the Dáil returns, about his desire to serve as a minister in the new government.
“The party leader is aware of that ambition. When I stepped down, he didn’t ask me to step down and the report found that I always acted in good faith. There was no intention to conceal anything from SIPO, so from that perspective I’ve been exonerated and I’ve also been re-elected comfortably in the most recent election.
“I proved that I was an effective minister when I was in the last term and I would be hoping that Micheál Martin [would recognise that], but it’s outside my control.
“It is my ambition, but it’s not my choice, it’s his choice. Obviously we’ll have to wait and see whether he has me in mind for a role. If he doesn’t, so be it.
“I’m elected to do a job by the people of Longford Westmeath, and I will continue to be a hard worker and a strong voice for the region if I don’t get it.”
On the make up of the new government, Deputy Troy says that the new coalition of Fianna Fail, Fine Gael, the Regional Independent Group and the Healy-Rae brothers will provide stability for the next five years.
“It is key that it lasts five years. You need that stability from an economic development perspective and in order to lay out a clear programme for government.
“We have a clear working majority, which will provide stability, and we have a programme for government now that, when implemented, will help alleviate the challenges that people are facing.”
Deputy Troy said that he is looking forward to Micheál Martin leading the government once again.
“When he was taoiseach in the last Dáil, I think he provided exemplary leadership and was level-headed. You could see his experience coming to the fore at every difficult decision.”