Fianna Fáil’s deputy leader Jack Chambers said he did not consider resigning as a result of his party’s disastrous presidential bid as he insisted the review into the election campaign shows there was “no basis” for him to do that.
Mr Chambers, the Minister for Public Expenditure, was the first senior Fianna Fáil figure approached about a possible bid for Áras an Uachtaráin by former Dublin football manager Jim Gavin and he went on to be his director of elections.
Mr Gavin abandoned his campaign for the Áras after it emerged he owed a former tenant more than €3,000. He has since paid the money back.
He remained on the ballot paper and ended up getting 7.2 per cent of the vote, with Catherine Connolly getting 63.4 per cent and winning the presidency comfortably.
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The report resulting from Fianna Fáil’s internal review of the election was published on Tuesday.
It contained no new damning facts about the campaign but there was a tense and at times angry meeting of the parliamentary party after its publication. Taoiseach Micheál Martin, who had strongly backed Mr Gavin to be the party’s candidate, defended himself at the meeting.
The report set out how Mr Gavin had been suggested to Mr Chambers as a possible candidate by former Dublin footballer Keith Barr in early June. There was a meeting between Mr Gavin and Mr Chambers later that month.
After a series of discussions, including with Mr Martin on July 21st, Mr Gavin confirmed his interest in being the party’s candidate on August 1st.
Mr Chambers and Mr Martin both supported Mr Gavin in the internal selection contest where he was up against MEP Billy Kelleher to become the Fianna Fáil’s presidential election candidate.
Mr Gavin was selected but his campaign imploded in early October on the weekend before Budget 2026 was announced, after media reports on the issue with the tenant.
During a press conference on Friday regarding the Government’s medium-term fiscal plan, Mr Chambers said he had “absolutely” not considered resigning as Fianna Fáil’s deputy leader.
He said: “I worked in good faith as director of elections and I think if you see the wide review there was no basis or reason for me to ever do that.”
Mr Chambers was asked whether it was a mistake to be director of elections while preparing for Budget 2026 as Minister for Public Expenditure.
He said he was director of elections for Fianna Fáil in the 2024 general election while serving as Minister for Finance and that had been a “very successful” election for the party.
“I take every role I’m given seriously, put a huge amount of work and time into it.
“And clearly the issue that emerged here [with Mr Gavin’s former tenant] was something that had very severe consequences on the weekend that it did so.
“But I implemented the budget properly.”
Mr Chambers also said: “Obviously, not having a candidate running for the party is and was a major regret.” This was “hugely disappointing” and “devastating” for everyone involved.
Mr Chambers also said he thinks the “collective view” within Fianna Fáil is that it should “move on” from the presidential election. He believes reforms suggested in the review on how the party selects its presidential candidate should be adopted and that is a matter for an ardfheis to consider next year.
Mr Chambers said there is “continued strong support for Micheál Martin’s leadership and I believe he should lead us into the next general election”.
[ Micheál Martin survives Fianna Fáil showdown - for nowOpens in new window ]
He added Mr Martin is “someone who’s brought huge stability, experience and drive within Government” and there is support for his leadership within Fianna Fáil and among the general public.
Asked if his own prospect of becoming Fianna Fáil leader in the future are damaged as a result of the presidential election experience, Mr Chambers said his “daily motivation” is not about that but rather “working hard” in his roles as a TD and Minister for Public Expenditure.
He said “ultimately the measure of what I do in the future” is how effective he is in delivering infrastructure and reforms in the economy and working within Government “to deliver for the Irish people”.
“That’s my sole motivation, focus next year and in future years.”
