Micheál Martin is trying to win over backbenchers after the disastrous decision to run Jim Gavin in the presidential election: Brian Lawless/PA

Taoiseach Micheál Martin and his trusty sidekick Jack Chambers are working hard to rebuild bridges in the parliamentary party after their disastrous decision to impose Jim Gavin as Fianna Fáil’s presidential candidate.

After last week’s emotional five-and-a-half-hour clear-the-air parliamentary party meeting, Micheál and Jack have set about demonstrating that they have listened and there have been learnings.

During that stormy meeting, James O’Connor, the Cork TD who is a thorn in his leader’s side, said he had never made any effort to make people feel involved.

So Chambers of Commerce pitched up in the Members Bar at lunchtime on Tuesday, full of chat. Then on Wednesday, he arrived into the bar with Micheál, who was in full schmooze mode.

“Circling the wagons, but with no great confidence” is how one observer saw it.

The Taoiseach has also taken a leaf from Leo Varadkar’s book and is inviting groups of backbenchers to Government Buildings. Individually or in groups of up to four.

“Tea and biccies,” one disillusioned Soldier of Destiny sniffed. “And tours of the building for people too. Like they were never asked inside before. It’s a joke. Asking them how they feel and stuff like that. But no real discussion.”

It might be a wise move for Micheál not to ask any of them how they feel today or for the foreseeable future.

Because it’ll take more than tea, biccies and a waltz around the marbled corridors of Merrion Street to get them back onside when they see the dire results for Fianna Fáil and for Micheál in this morning’s opinion poll.

Going to the country once meant something else

Waxing lyrical about the good old days, when times were hard and families were massive but everyone was happy even if they