Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform Jack Chambers has expressed deep regret over how Jim Gavin exited the presidential race, reports RTE.
Minister Chambers, who acted as Director of Elections for Fianna Fáil during Mr Gavin’s campaign, acknowledged the fallout.
He said there was “huge” disappointment and upset voiced by TDs, senators and MEPs during a Fianna Fáil Parliamentary Party gathering at Leinster House last night.
He expressed sorrow over the situation and stressed the importance of learning lessons moving forward, reports RTE.
Minister Chambers made the comments while speaking at a charity budget briefing in Kinsale, Co Cork.
When asked whether he owed Fianna Fáil supporters an apology in his capacity as Director of Elections, he said he had done his utmost in the role, reports RTE.
“I said I deeply regret and I am sorry for what’s after happening. I always do my best in every role I am given for the party and put the party interest first in the work that I do,” he told RTÉ News, reports RTE.
“There is huge upset and disappointment at the fact that Fianna Fáil now doesn’t have a presidential candidate. A huge amount of work went into the campaign and I think there is broader upset across the party about that,” reports RTE.
Mr Chambers described the atmosphere during the five-hour party meeting as honest, open, and remorseful.
“I deeply regret what’s after happening. I would much prefer to be out canvassing, mobilising our grassroots and ensuring that Fianna Fail is in the contest,” he added, reports RTE.
Jim Gavin stepped down from the race after it came to light that he had failed to return over €3,000 in rent overpayments to a tenant 16 years ago.
Taoiseach and Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin issued an apology to colleagues last night for the handling of the presidential campaign.
Mr Martin acknowledged that the party was hurt and shocked by Mr Gavin’s sudden withdrawal last Sunday, reports RTE.
He told members he was sorry and devastated by the rapid collapse of the campaign.
He reaffirmed his intention to lead Fianna Fáil into the next general election.
Although there was no open challenge to Mr Martin’s leadership during the meeting, former Ceann Comhairle Seán Ó Fearghaíl highlighted the need for a complete overhaul of how the party functions by early 2027, reports RTE.
This was widely taken as a possible indication that a leadership transition might be on the horizon around that time.
Speaking on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland, Mr Ó Fearghaíl criticised the way Fianna Fáil’s parliamentary party is treated, saying its members are like “vegetables” who are “told what to do and what to think.”
In a blunt critique of his own party, the Kildare South TD called for reform and indicated that questions about Mr Martin’s leadership may arise once Ireland’s EU Council presidency ends in December next year, reports RTE.
Mr Ó Fearghaíl said the party must change so that parliamentary members feel heard, and added that Mr Martin must adapt to these calls for reform.
He said Mr Martin’s apology “doesn’t mean anything for the Taoiseach’s leadership of Fianna Fáil in the short term” but suggested that this could change down the line.
Deputy Ó Fearghaíl offered this criticism while recounting a tale about the late Fianna Fáil leader Charles Haughey ordering dinner, using the story to highlight how party members feel ignored by top leadership, reports RTE.
“There are many stories told about the late great Charles Haughey. One of the stories was that he, on one occasion, took his Cabinet to one of his favourite restaurants and arriving earlier than anybody else, he was welcomed by the maître d’, who showed him to his table and gave him the menu,” reports RTE.
“Mr Haughey made his selection and at the end of it, the maître d’ said ‘Mr Haughey … what about the vegetables?’ … whereupon Charlie responded, ‘well, they’ll have the same as I’m having’,” Deputy Ó Fearghaíl said, reports RTE.
He added: “My point is that for a period of time, it would appear that the parliamentary party have been the vegetables. We have been told what to do, what to think, and we haven’t been taken seriously.”
Deputy Ó Fearghaíl also said that at the meeting “the Taoiseach appeared genuinely upset, very anxious to atone for the mistakes that were made.”
“He did, I think, connect effectively with the members and did appear to listen to take the messages on board,” he said, reports RTE.
“The room, while being full of anger, was also full of goodwill because there was unanimity that number one, Jim Gavin and his family needed to be supported now with the aftermath of the trauma that they’ve been through. But equally so, Fianna Fáil needs to get over what has been an utter and absolute debacle,” he added, reports RTE.
“What has occurred around the presidential selection and the really appalling campaign is a symptom of how we’ve been doing our business as a political party for some time,” reports RTE.
In a separate comment, Cork South West TD Christopher O’Sullivan said there is strong “desire to move on from this” within Fianna Fáil, and no significant appetite for a change in leadership.
“Judging by the tone of the parliamentary party and speaking to parliamentary party meetings over the course of the last couple of days, there’s no desire for a change of leadership,” Mr O’Sullivan said, reports RTE.
“A year ago, Micheál Martin did what nobody thought he could do, and that is, we came out of the general election as the biggest party. That’s not even 12 months ago. Nothing has changed. Not much has changed, at least,” Mr O’Sullivan added, reports RTE.
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