Jim Gavin’s legal team requests copy of Fianna Fáil review before it is presented to politicians

Fears long-awaited review into party's calamitous presidential election will not be ready before Christmas

Taoiseach Micheál Martin with Jim Gavin. Picture: Damien Eagers Photography

Fianna Fáil’s presidential election candidate Jim Gavin’s legal team has requested a copy of the party’s review before it is presented to politicians, the Irish Examiner understands.

It comes as fears are growing amongst TDs that the long-awaited review into its calamitous presidential election will not be ready before Christmas.

The review panel previously advised that it would need until the first week of December to complete its work.

Mr Gavin, the former Dublin GAA manager, was chosen to be Fianna Fáil’s candidate in early September. 

However, he withdrew from the race after it emerged that he failed to repay a tenant €3,300 in rent overpayments in 2008. 

He had also failed to register the property with the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB).

The party’s director of elections, Jack Chambers, said at the time that Mr Gavin was asked about the incident when media queries were received, and initially said he could not remember any issues. 

However, the tenant later contacted the party with proof.

Jim Gavin, withdrew from the race after it emerged that he failed to repay a tenant €3,300 in rent overpayments in 2008. He had also failed to register the property with the Residential Tenancies Board.

The Fianna Fáil parliamentary party heard on Wednesday that Mr Gavin’s legal team has now requested a copy of the review before it is made available to the party.

TDs, senators, and MEPs were informed that the review is not ready and that a standalone parliamentary party meeting dedicated to discussing the review will be held once the report is completed.

The Irish Examiner understands that a draft version of the report has been completed but is being kept under lock and key. 

It is further understood that the review has been delivered to headquarters.

There is now a growing belief in Fianna Fáil that the report will not be made available to the party before Christmas.

Sources said that they believed that there are still a number of issues to be cleared, but that this approach is likely to "annoy" members.

"If they delay us until after Christmas, the reaction will be bad," one source said.

"People know that this is just a can being kicked down the road to avoid questions."

One source said that it was possible that the report could be delivered early next year, when Taoiseach Micheál Martin is due to be out of the country in China.

It is understood that the "bulk of the work" has been done on the report, but that "further examination" is needed on certain parts. 

One source said that the authors are "being very careful" due to individuals being named in the document.

Some members of the party expect that the report is currently being examined by lawyers.

However, some in the party say that they believe that the timeline is understandable given the number of people to spoken to.

"The people putting this together have other jobs and needed to speak to a lot of members," a party TD said.

It is understood that the Taoiseach told the meeting that his preference would be for the report to be published before Christmas. However, it is understood that there was no commitment given.