Chambers: Jim Gavin’s account of rental dispute 'contradicted' by documents provided to Fianna Fáil
Former presidential election candidate Jim Gavin and Fianna Fáil director of elections Jack Chambers. When asked several times if he accepts responsibility as director of elections, Mr Chambers declined to answer. File picture: Stephen Collins/Collins Photos
Presidential election candidate Jim Gavin’s account of a rental dispute was “contradicted” by documents provided to the party by the tenant, Jack Chambers has confirmed.
Fianna Fáil's deputy leader, however, rowed in behind Taoiseach Micheál Martin and insisted due diligence was done on Mr Gavin.
Mr Gavin spectacularly pulled out of the race on Sunday night, citing that he had made a mistake.
It followed a report in Saturday’s suggesting that he had failed to repay a tenant's rent overpayments of €3,300 that were made in 2009. Mr Gavin confirmed on Sunday that the property had not been registered with the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB), despite this being required by law since 2004.
Speaking on Monday, Mr Chambers said Mr Gavin’s former tenant contacted the party and had information that proved their story, “contrary to what the party had been told by Mr Gavin”.
“On Thursday, a press query was made to the party, and that was answered on Friday, following engagement with Jim,” Mr Chambers said. “At that time, he said he had no record or recollection of the particular issue that was set out in the article on Saturday.
“Subsequently, on Saturday, the tenant in question contacted the party and said that they did have records relating to this particular issue, and that was contrary to what the party had been told and what had been said on Friday.
“It was clear that that was emerging as a very serious issue that was put to Jim. There was engagement with him, and then over the weekend, it was clear that there was absolute veracity to what the tenant had said."
Mr Chambers told RTÉ's that Mr Gavin "retrieved partial records, which confirmed that this was an issue". “Obviously, the contradiction between what was said on Friday and what emerged reflects the seriousness of this.”
When asked if the party had been misled, Mr Chambers said it “became clear over the weekend that there was a clear contradiction between what was said on Friday and obviously what emerged in terms of what the tenant had said”.
He said: “That's why this is a serious issue, and it's important that nobody brings controversy onto the office. It's the first citizen of our state, and I think that's why Jim was correct in making that decision.”
Earlier on Monday, Fianna Fáil MEP Billy Kelleher, who sought to be nominated as the party's candidate earlier this year, accused his party of not doing “due diligence”. He said there were “multiple failures”, branding it a “very serious miscalculation” that “can’t be swept under the carpet”.
Mr Chambers insisted there was “extensive and robust” due diligence done, with the minister stating that the party will have to reflect on what occurred.
When asked several times if he accepts responsibility as director of elections, he declined to answer. Mr Chambers said a “democratic process” took place to pick Mr Gavin as the party’s candidate.
“Well, I'm extremely disappointed, like many in the party, about what has emerged, and clearly the fact that this was not disclosed. It reflects why Jim Gavin made the decision that he made.
“I think there's still and will continue to be significant and unanimous support for Micheál Martin as leader of our party and Taoiseach of the country.”
Mr Chambers also stated that the Taoiseach will “continue to have the full support of our parliamentary party”.
Meanwhile, Fianna Fáil MEP Barry Andrews criticised Mr Chambers, saying he does not want to see Jim Gavin “thrown under the bus” over the rental dispute.
Mr Andrews took a swipe at Mr Chambers over his comments on Monday, saying: “I listened to an interview this morning where Jack Chambers sort of implied that the party was mislead and I think that is unfortunate.
“I’m not sure that we carried out the appropriate due diligence. Due diligence is about not taking things on face value, on having the political sensitivity to know what matters in a presidential election, and I really wouldn’t like to hear Jim Gavin being thrown under a bus on this issue.
“Of course he made a mistake, he is now going to fix that.”
Mr Andrews pointed to Mr Gavin being a “political novice”, saying he did not have the same sense of what was likely to come up in the presidential election campaign.
“If we’re serious about acknowledging that this is a fiasco for the party, then we have to sit down and not be jumping to these conclusions so quickly. We have to have a proper discussion.”
Mr Andrews said he wanted to see discussions about the issue take place at an upcoming Fianna Fáil parliamentary party meeting.
“Let's hear what they [the party leadership] have to say. Let’s hear what the explanations are, and I think a little bit of humility is appropriate here, because it has been a fiasco,” Mr Andrews said.
The MEP said he would not be “individually blaming people” until he heard accounts, while adding Mr Gavin was brought into the campaign “incorrectly”.
However, Mr Andrews said it was not an issue of Mr Martin’s leadership. He added that the public was frustrated by a lack of choice in the election, and this would be compounded by just two candidates being in the race. Mr Andrews said he would be voting for Fine Gael’s Heather Humphreys in the election.
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