Taoiseach Micheál Martin addressed Jim Gavin’s withdrawal from the 2025 presidential election on RTÉ last night, acknowledging the impact of the controversy on Fianna Fáil and expressing disappointment over the episode.
Gavin stepped out of the race on 6 October, citing a personal mistake and concern for his family’s wellbeing. “Recent days have given me cause to reflect. I made a mistake that was not in keeping with my character and the standards I set myself… I have decided to withdraw from the presidential election contest with immediate effect and return to the arms of my family,” he said. His exit, just weeks before polling day, brought an abrupt end to what had been a closely fought three-way race with Catherine Connolly and Heather Humphreys.
Gavin’s decision followed reports that he allegedly owes a former tenant €3,300 in overpaid rent from nearly two decades ago. The property involved was reportedly not registered with the Residential Tenancies Board at the time, something Gavin admitted was a “mistake born of financial hardship and unfamiliarity with new rules.”
Speaking on RTÉ, Martin said: “I take responsibility for that, and I take knowledge that many members of the party are hurting today, because of what transpired. I fully accept that. We’ve been through tough times before… and this is a tough day for the party.”
When asked if he was aware of Gavin’s history as a landlord, the Taoiseach replied: “We didn’t know about that specific issue. We knew he was a landlord. Repeatedly, Jim was asked, ‘Have you ever had any issue with a tenant?’ And he said ‘absolutely not.’ I think what happened is, there was an issue back in his life around 2009, he clearly did not deal with it at that time or since, and probably buried it somewhere. The consequences of that have now come home.”
Despite his withdrawal, Jim Gavin’s name will still appear on ballot papers in the 24 October presidential election. Under Department of Housing and Local Government rules, any candidate who withdraws after the nomination process remains officially on the ballot. Votes cast for Gavin will be counted in the same way as for Catherine Connolly and Heather Humphreys, though it is expected he will receive very few.
