FIANNA FÁIL HAS set out how the party will review its chaotic presidential campaign following the shock departure of candidate Jim Gavin.

The former Dublin Gaelic football manager exited the race after it emerged he had owed a former tenant €3,300 since 2009. (Although he remains on the ballot due to a technicality.)

Since then, to try and calm critics within the party, Taoiseach and Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin has committed to a review of the processes that saw Gavin put forward as a candidate.

It’s been confirmed tonight that the party has commissioned a review that will be chaired by a senior counsel Ciaran O’Loughlin and will also involve TDs Eamon Scanlon, Tom Brabazon and Senator Margaret Murphy O’Mahony.

At the party’s parliamentary party tonight, TDs and senators were told that the terms of reference of a review had been agreed.

This is to return by 12 November and will consider the steps taken during the identification and selection process, the basis for identification and selection of a candidate.

It’s understood it will also examine the Presidential election campaign up to and including Sunday 5 October.

Numerous members of the party have come forward since Gavin’s withdrawal from the race and said Martin and his deputy, Jack Chambers, had pushed members of the parliamentary party to back Gavin.

This support came at the expense of party stalwart and MEP Billy Kelleher who had put his name forward.

During a grueling five-hour parliamentary party meeting in Leinster House this week, the Fianna Fáil leader apologised for the handling of the presidential election process in light of the spectacular fashion in which Jim Gavin exited the race.

Martin told colleagues he was “devastated” by what has happened and that he is open to suggestions on how the presidential selection process can be changed for the future.

With reporting by Christina Finn