Taoiseach denies leadership in trouble as Fianna Fáil presidential election review to be shared 

Taoiseach Micheál Martin speaking to reporters before a Cabinet meeting at Government Buildings, Dublin. Picture: Cillian Sherlock/PA Wire

Taoiseach Micheál Martin has confirmed that he has finally received the Fianna Fáil presidential election review and that it will be shared with the parliamentary party.

Ahead of the long-awaited review being shared, when asked if his leadership was in trouble, Mr Martin said: “No, not at all”.

However, he did not confirm that the review would be shared promptly. He also refused to confirm which media reports he was suggesting were incorrect.

The review into the presidential election campaign, which saw candidate Jim Gavin drop out of the race over a dispute with a tenant, was completed on Monday evening.

The Irish Examiner understands that the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party will meet at 7pm today. Ministers were told at Cabinet this morning.

On his way into Cabinet, Mr Martin confirmed that he received the review and will share it “promptly” with the parliamentary party. However, he would not confirm when the meeting will take place.

“I'm much happier that I have it now,” the Taoiseach said.

“I didn't have it all along, and I was taken aback by some of the commentary last week, where it seems people [were] reacting on reported leaks or whatever.

“The assertions contained in some of the commentary last week were simply false, and I had to put that on the record.

“It’s not fair to people to have their names bandied about the place in the context of assertions that were and are false.” 

When asked what reports were incorrect, Mr Martin cited “ones that were made at the weekend in respect to people having knowledge that they didn't have”. 

When asked by the Irish Examiner if people were aware of an issue but not the exact issue, the Taoiseach said “let’s not be covering up”, but said he was not getting into an “argy bargy”.

The Irish Examiner asked Mr Martin whether or not he and deputy leader Jack Chambers met Jim Gavin on the evening of the report to express that Fianna Fáil did not have confidence in him continuing in the race.

When he noted that he only got the report on Monday evening, it was pointed out to him that the question was about his own recollection of events and not the review. He then accused a reporter of “heckling”.

“The report will be published. The report will go to the parliamentary party. The full entirety of the context will be there,” he said, “But I'd be straight with you, false assertions were made in respect of people.

“That's what I'm saying, and I'm entitled to say that. I'm not going to pre-empt the consideration of the report now in terms of one-to-one with journalists.

“I'm very calm about this. I'm absolutely relieved I've got the report because I didn't have it up to now. You [the Irish Examiner] seem to be getting tidbits from somebody, I don't know who. I have no idea how that is happening, but I certainly haven't seen the report until last evening. I hope you accept that.

“I also am very clear in making the assertions that I've made...Assertions that were made in respect to certain people - and that was covered last week, and particularly at the weekend - were false. That's what I'm saying.

“People might like me saying that, but I have a duty to say that. I will deal with the entirety of the report this evening.”