Taoiseach won't say if he was aware of Jim Gavin's issue with tenant before nomination vote

It comes after Thursday's revelation that Fianna Fáil deputy leader Jack Chambers was told of Jim Gavin's issue with a former tenant — hours before the the party's presidential nomination vote

Taoiseach Micheál Martin with other senior Fianna Fáil members, including Jack Chambers, announcing Jim Gavin as the party's presidential election candidate in September. Niall Carson/PA

The Taoiseach has declined to comment on whether he was made aware of Jim Gavin's issues with a previous tenant before his party nominated him for president.

On Thursday, the Irish Examiner revealed that a member of the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party informed deputy leader Jack Chambers that Jim Gavin may have had an issue with a former tenant hours before he was chosen as the party's presidential election candidate.

Fianna Fáil selected Mr Gavin to contest the presidential election on September 9, following a vote of the parliamentary party.

He beat  Ireland South MEP Billy Kelleher in a secret ballot by 41 votes to 29.

The former Dublin GAA manager was the preferred candidate of Micheál Martin and Mr Chambers. He was also backed publicly by members of the Cabinet.

However, he spectacularly withdrew from the race on October 5 following confirmation that he had failed to return rent overpayments worth €3,300 to a tenant in 2008. The rental property was also not declared with the Residential Tenancies Board.

On October 6, Mr Chambers, Fianna Fáil’s director of elections, was critical of Mr Gavin’s explanation of the rental dispute, saying it was “contradicted” by documents provided to the party by the tenant.

A review of the disastrous campaign took place in the aftermath of the presidential election and is set to be delivered to Fianna Fáil members next week, potentially at a special party meeting.

The report was expected in mid-November, but TDs and senators were told that it was taking longer than expected. 

There is still a lack of clarity on when the review will be completed, but it is due back from Mr Gavin's lawyers.

Asked on Friday about the Irish Examiner report, Mr Martin said that he hadn't seen the review as yet.

“I am not going to comment any further. There's a review. We'll see the review when the review comes about.”

Asked by the Irish Examiner if Mr Chambers gave him information he had about Mr Gavin, Mr Martin declined to comment and again pointed to the upcoming review of the presidential campaign.

Speaking on Friday in DCU at the launch of a contract for a new BusConnects corridor, transport minister Darragh O'Brien said that he had not been made aware of any issues, but that he would not be commenting on what he called "speculation".

“I haven’t seen the final report, and I’m going to wait till I assess that and discuss it with colleagues,” he said.