Fianna Fáil presidential election review will not report until next month

TDs and senators were told at the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party meeting that the review group would not finish its work until the end of the first week in December, three weeks later than initially expected

A poster for Fianna Fáil presidential candidate Jim Gavin outside Leinster House in Dublin in October as the former Dublin GAA senior football manager had dropped out of the race for the Áras. Picture: Cillian Sherlock/PA

A group reviewing Fianna Fáil’s presidential election campaign will not finish its work until the first week of December, the party has been told.

It comes as Taoiseach Micheál Martin once again told his party that he was not leaving his position and would fulfil his mandate amid questions about his future as party leader.

It was expected that a report into the party’s beleaguered presidential election campaign would be finished on Wednesday evening.

When the review was initially announced, the parliamentary party was told that it would be turned around within four weeks.

However, chief whip Mary Butler confirmed over the weekend that there would be a delay to the report, causing anger amongst some TDs and senators that they were not directly told about the issue and instead heard about the delay through the media.

Fianna Fáil’s election candidate Jim Gavin withdrew from the race after it emerged that he had not repaid rent overpayments to a tenant. He also withheld information from the party when he was asked about the issue.

At the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party meeting on Wednesday evening, TDs and senators were told that the review group would not finish its work until the end of the first week in December, three weeks later than initially expected.

However, sources said that it was not specified if this meant the review would also be published the same week.

Several sources at the meeting told the Irish Examiner that the news was met with a “stunned silence” and a “deathly silence” by those in attendance.

Taoiseach Micheál Martin addressed the meeting and told his politicians there needed to be “respect on both sides”.

Sources at the parliamentary party said “about half” of those in attendance at the meeting clapped following the Taoiseach’s contribution.

In a warning to party rebels, Mr Martin said he had a “duty to lead the country” and would “fulfil his obligations and mandate”. He said he had been “flat out” leading the Government.

Several TDs also noted there was a calmer atmosphere at this week’s meeting following fiery interactions at last week’s meeting when Mr Martin was at the Cop30 summit in Brazil.

“Rebels” within the party complained last week about the so-called “naughty list” that had been circulated to journalists from Government Buildings.

The list broke down “rebel” TDs and “the old guard” who would support change within the party amid constant rumours of a coup against Mr Martin.

However, despite the list dominating last week’s proceedings, several TDs told the Irish Examiner that the matter was not raised this week.