Micheál Martin apologises to Fianna Fáil for Jim Gavin debacle
Taoiseach Micheál Martin with Jim Gavin on September 9 at the announcement that Mr Gavin would be Fianna Fáil's presidential candidate. At a private party meeting on Wednesday night, an emotional Mr Martin acknowledged the 'hurt and shock' of members and apologised for the affair. Picture: Niall Carson/PA
Taoiseach Micheál Martin has issued a humble apology to Fianna Fáil TDs and senators for the Jim Gavin debacle and agreed to an official review of the disastrous decision to run the former Dublin GAA manager in the presidential election.
In a closed-door parliamentary party meeting on Wednesday night, an emotional Mr Martin apologised for the affair, which leaves Fianna Fáil without a campaigning candidate in the first presidential election it has contested since 1997.
The Taoiseach acknowledged the “hurt and shock of members” and said he was “sorry” that Mr Gavin’s candidacy had ended in the way it did, adding that he was “devastated” by how it unravelled.
Mr Gavin withdrew from the race on Sunday after it emerged he had failed to return overpaid rent to a former tenant.
Mr Martin told TDs and senators he “fully understood the enormity and disappointment” of the election embarrassment.
He said he was open to any suggestions on how the party’s process to nominate a presidential candidate can be changed for the future.
The meeting, which had been billed as “high stakes” by TDs in the build-up, was said to be “constructive and civil”, although some strongly criticised both the party leadership and the process involved in naming Mr Gavin as the Fianna Fáil nominee.
Ireland South MEP Billy Kelleher, who was beaten by Mr Gavin in the party’s nomination race, was among the first to speak, and sources said his contribution was constructive and that he suggested the establishment of a review of the controversy.
It was agreed that this would be established, with its membership selected from within by the parliamentary party.
A number of TDs and senators raised concerns about Mr Gavin’s wellbeing in the wake of the affair, with one source saying he had “really been hung out” since the weekend.
Sources said that while there was still “deep and real anger” within the party over how the incident transpired, the meeting had not been as confrontational or angry as expected.
Mr Martin’s position was not under any threat during the meeting.
Earlier on Wednesday, the party member seen by many as most likely to challenge Mr Martin — justice minister Jim O’Callaghan — said he was not gunning for the job in the near future.
Asked if he was interested in being party leader, Mr O’Callaghan said: “I think, at some stage, in the future.”
“I’ve no issue with respect to Micheál Martin’s leadership,” he said.
"He is doing a very good job as leader of Fianna Fáil and the Government."
Meanwhile, Mr Gavin has said he will repay the €3,300 owed, as the tenant at the centre of the rent dispute spoke publicly for the first time.
Mr Gavin dramatically withdrew from the race following claims he owed the former tenant, journalist Niall Donald, more than €3,000 for a rental arrangement that was not properly registered.
A statement by a legal representative of Mr Gavin said the former Dublin GAA boss will repay Mr Donald, once the former tenant clarifies two issues.
“We have reached out to Mr Donald and explained to him that we have been instructed to make the payment of €3,300 to him subject to clarifying two issues — we await hearing back from Mr Donald and once those two issues are clarified, we can then proceed to close out on the matter,” the legal representative said.
“From Mr Gavin’s initial consideration of the podcast, it is clear there are inaccuracies.”
Mr Donald said he felt somewhat sorry for Mr Gavin.
“It’s up to him whether he wants to pay it back or not,” he said. “It wasn’t the outcome I wanted. Does the punishment fit the crime? Probably not.”
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