Fianna Fáil asked Jim Gavin several times if he had difficulties with tenants, Taoiseach says

On RTÉ’s 'Six One News', Micheál Martin said he proposed Mr Gavin as the party needed a 'broad-based candidate who could have the potential to garner a significant degree of support across society'

Taoiseach Micheál Martin: 'This is a tough day for us as a party. It is not something I anticipated or wanted in any shape or form.' Picture: Colin Keegan/Collins, Dublin

Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said Fianna Fáil asked Jim Gavin several times if he had any difficulties with tenants and was informed he did not.

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 Irish Independent suggesting that he had failed to repay a tenant's rent overpayment of €3,300 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.

On RTÉ’s Six One News, Mr Martin said he proposed Mr Gavin as the party needed a “broad-based candidate who could have the potential to garner a significant degree of support across society”, adding "his background was significant".

The Taoiseach said Mr Gavin had told the party he was a landlord, adding that Mr Gavin was specifically asked if he had negative experiences with tenants.

He said: “What happens in a situation like this [is] you say to any candidate: ‘Is there anything in your life that we need to know? Is there anything that happened in the past?’

“That happened with Jim Gavin over a number of hours. Subsequently, queries were made and there [are] queries made about lots of things in the midst of election.

“Repeatedly, Jim was asked: ‘Had you ever any issue with a tenant?' He said: ‘Absolutely not.'

'Consequences have come home'

“When it emerged that he rented out an apartment at one time in his life, then it was asked: ‘Was there any issues with a tenant?’ 

“The answer was no. There is only so much anyone can do in situations like this.

“What happened here, there was an issue in his life back in and around 2009. He clearly did not deal with it at that time or since, and probably buried it somewhere in the recesses of his mind, and didn't deal with it.

“The consequences of that have now come home.” 

When the Taoiseach was told that he had picked Mr Gavin, he insisted that “we need to be careful about that", adding that a “parliamentary party of democratically elected representatives in their respective constituencies” also backed him.

However, he accepted that he had backed Mr Gavin and put him forward as a candidate.

“Absolutely, I take responsibility for that,” the Taoiseach said.

“I take responsibility for that. I want to acknowledge that many, many members of the party are hurting out there because of what has transpired.

“I fully accept that. We've been through tough times in the past. I've been through tough times as a leader of the party.

“This is a tough day for us as a party. It is not something I anticipated or wanted in any shape or form.” 

He also insisted that “very comprehensive due diligence was done” on Mr Gavin.

Mr Martin also denied that his leadership was in danger, and said he intends to lead the party into the next election.