Micheál Martin has insisted that he will contest the next General Election and will lead Fianna Fáil into that campaign.
The Taoiseach was speaking after arriving for the second day of major international discussions in Dublin, prior to an informal meeting of EU leaders, following on from the European Political Community gathering.
Speaking to RTÉ Radio, Micheal Martin said that he will "fulfil his mandate as Taoiseach", but had initially remained coy regarding any questions on whether he would lead Fianna Fáil in the next General Election.
This led to suggestions outside Leinster House that his future as leader of Fianna Fáil would come to end at the same time that his party must hand over the Taoiseach's office to Fine Gael as part of the agreement from the Coalition Government.
However, Mr Martin dismissed such rumours while speaking to reporters in Dublin.
"I'm going to fulfil my mandate as Taoiseach. I'm focused on the issues - Europe and the world is in a very difficult space. Ireland is navigating this turmoil, this global instability as resiliently as we possibly can and that's where the focus has to be. And domestically, we have big issues such as housing, disability and in terms of the infrastructure needs of the country", he said.
He also added that he would be "leading Fianna Fáil in the coming years and so on".
Elsewhere, Mr Martin said that he does not expect his leadership to be challenged.
Despite a number of controversies, such as Jim Gavin's ill-fated presidential election campaign, and further criticism over the fuel protests in April, Mr Martin appears set to retain his grip as leader of Fianna Fáil. The General Election is due in 2029 at the latest.
Micheál Martin was first elected to the Dáil in 1989 and is one of the longest serving TDs in the 34th Dáil, just behind colleagues Willie O'Dea and Independent Tipperary North TD, Michael Lowry.
