What does the Fianna Fáil presidential election review reveal?

After weeks of queries and delays, the party has finally published its presidential election review

Taoiseach Micheál Martin with Jim Gavin. Picture: Damien Eagers

After weeks of queries and delays, Fianna Fáil has finally published its presidential election review.

The report — which took longer to complete than the party’s candidate Jim Gavin was in the race — was finally provided to Fianna Fáil on Tuesday evening. But did we learn anything new?

How did Jim Gavin come to Fianna Fáil’s attention?

The review confirms former Dublin GAA player Keith Barr approached Fianna Fáil’s deputy leader Jack Chambers on June 9.

Mr Gavin texted Mr Chambers on June 15, “seeking to follow up on the initial contact”. 

Mr Chambers arranged for Mr Gavin to meet with the party’s secretary general Seán Dorgan on June 22. 

Another meeting took place on July 8 where the role, the constitution and “the nature and demands of an election were discussed in detail”.

Mr Gavin confirmed to Mr Dorgan on August 1 that he wanted to put his name forward.

Micheál Martin had only met with Mr Gavin once when he backed him, according to the report.

What due diligence was done?

Due diligence was undertaken by Mr Dorgan, assistant sec gen Darragh McShea, and Peter MacDonagh, a long-term adviser to Mr Martin, alongside “other communication specialists”. 

It consisted of research, the examination of public documents, media articles and several meetings with Mr Gavin.

The review says a “variety of questions on Mr Gavin’s position as a landlord and a variety of matters that might arise as a result thereof were raised”.

The party then decided “any disgruntled tenant would almost certainly raise their grievance publicly” and Mr Gavin “did not recall any potential issues when the topic was addressed”.

Who found out and when?

As first reported by the Irish Examiner last week, Mr Chambers was contacted by a member of the parliamentary party on September 8 by a backbencher suggesting there may be an issue with a former tenant of Mr Gavin’s. 

This report confirms this was Dublin South-West TD John Lahart.

On September 5, Deirdre Gillane, the Taoiseach’s chief of staff, was contacted by Fionnán Sheahan of the Irish Independent, saying “there may be an issue with a tenant”.

What did Jim Gavin say?

When both queries were put to Mr Gavin, he “professed no recollection of any such issues, of a deposit not having been returned, nor that he had a tenant who was a journalist”.

On October 2, another query was submitted by Mr Sheahan to Fianna Fáil about the issue of the €3,300 and the query was put to Mr Gavin on October 3, when he still had no “recollection”.

On October 4, the tenant, Sunday World journalist Niall Donald, rang Elaine O’Meara, Mr Gavin’s press officer. 

Mr Gavin was with Ms O’Meara when the phone call took place. 

Another conversation happened that evening between Fianna Fáil HQ and Mr Gavin.

He later retrieved “relevant records” which indicated that he “received at least some of the payments in question”.

Who else wanted to contest the election?

The review says several present and former Fianna Fáil politicians expressed an interest in contesting the election.

This included Cynthia Ní Mhurchú, MEP for Ireland South, who contacted Mr Martin on August 17. 

The Taoiseach told the committee that it “would be challenging to seek election to a new role having been an MEP for a relatively short period of time”.

Former senator Pádraig Ó Céidigh contacted Mr Dorgan in November 2024. 

Posters for Fianna Fail presidential candidate Jim Gavin outside Leinster House, Dublin, one day after he dropped out of contention. Picture: Frank Vincini

They spoke again in April and May 2025. 

Mr Ó Céidigh was informed in August that the leadership was “tending towards a different candidate”.

Former taoiseach Bertie Ahern contacted Mr Dorgan in April 2025. 

The review said he “did not receive a definitive response to his request for the Leader’s support” and learned this through the media.

Mr Dorgan contacted Mr Ahern’s office around August 26. 

The review states he “fully accepts that he should have made contact with him a week or two sooner and stated that it was not his intention to be discourteous”.

Former minister Mary Hanafin also expressed interest and wrote to the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party several times. 

Mr Martin told her on August 29 that they would be backing Mr Gavin.

Cork MEP Billy Kelleher was the only other person to contest the selection convention.