Fianna Fáil TDs and senators chide HQ for not dealing with queries about Jim Gavin

Two MEPs who failed to secure party's nomination for the presidential election were among those to address 'tense' party meeting

Taoiseach Micheál Martin speaking to the media at Government Buildings ahead of Tuesday's Cabinet meeting. Picture: Leah Farrell/RollingNews

Fianna Fáil TDs and senators have criticised how the party failed to deal with questions from a journalist about Jim Gavin’s issue with a former tenant.

At a parliamentary party meeting to discuss the long-awaited report, TDs and senators received a “lengthy presentation” from the chair of the report group, Ciaran O’Loughlin SC.

Following the presentation, Mr O’Loughlin fielded questions from parliamentary party members.

Report's findings

The report itself found that Mr Martin told Mr Gavin he could not recommend that Fianna Fáil continue to support his candidacy, after revelations emerged about €3,300 he owed to a former tenant.

Micheál Martin's chief of staff Deirdre Gillane was one of the recipients of queries from a newspaper before the issue was raised with Mr Gavin in early September. File picture   

It adds that Mr Gavin was asked about a dispute with a tenant on September 5 and September 8, following inquiries from a newspaper to Mr Martin’s top advisor Deirdre Gillane and the Fianna Fáil press office.

In his speech to the parliamentary party on Tuesday, Mr Martin was described as being “defensive and ratty”.

One source at the meeting described it as “tense”, while another said there was an “uneasiness” in the room.

'TD essentially accuses HQ of leaking report'

During the meeting, Cork East TD James O’Connor questioned how some media outlets were able to have stories about the report out so quickly, despite parliamentary party members receiving it at 5.58pm on Tuesday evening.

One source said Mr O’Connor “essentially” accused the party HQ of leaking the report early to journalists.

Cork MEP Billy Kelleher, who contested the selection convention against Mr Gavin, told the meeting the former GAA manager had been hidden during the campaign.

This was echoed by other TDs, saying Mr Gavin had been “shielded” from the media.

During the meeting, Wicklow-Wexford TD Malcolm Byrne sought to clarify whether Mr Martin met Mr Gavin once before opting to endorse him for the party’s presidential candidacy.

Cynthia Ní Mhurchú, MEP for Ireland South, raised issues with the report and her potential candidacy for the presidency.

The report itself states that Ms Ní Mhurchú expressed an interest in running “on condition that she had the support of the party’s leader”.

However, the MEP told the meeting that she did not have a precondition requiring Mr Martin’s support.