A review into Fianna Fail’s handling of the Presidential Election Campaign reveals potential issues with a former tenant were raised with the party before Jim Gavin was selected as its candidate in September.
The report was discussed at length by Fianna Fail TDs and Senators at a Parliamentary Party meeting in Leinster House on Tuesday night.
The report reveals the Taoiseach’s chief of staff, Minister Jack Chambers, and members of the press office were told of a potential problem in the days before the former Dublin GAA Manager became the official candidate.
However it doesn’t indicate when Taoiseach and party leader Micheál Martin was made aware of the issue.
The former Dublin GAA football manager withdrew from October’s election after it came to light he owed a former tenant €3,300 in overpaid rent.
The review reveals Jim Gavin was asked by the party about a potential issue with former tenants on five occasions – twice before he became Fianna Fail’s Presidential election candidate and three times afterwards.
The report notes there was questioning by the party but ‘nothing further was done’ in relation to the issue.
This would of course later prove disastrous for Fianna Fail, after it was revealed Jim Gavin owed a former tenant €3,300 in overpaid rent dating back to 2009.
The public revelation led to Mr Gavin pulling out of the election campaign at the start of October, weeks ahead of polling day.
The review recommends strengthening vetting for future candidate selection processes, including interviews with family, friends, former colleagues and ‘political opponents’.
