MINISTER JACK CHAMBERS shed further light this evening on the timeline surrounding the circumstances that led to Jim Gavin’s withdrawal from the presidential election.

Gavin, Fianna Fáil’s presidential candidate, withdrew from the race with a bombshell announcement at 10.30 pm on Sunday night. 

It came after he failed to clarify reports on RTé’s The Week in Politics debate that he allegedly did not repay a tenant €3,300 in rent mistakenly paid over a decade ago. 

Following the shock announcement, Fianna Fáil has been plunged into crisis, with questions now over the party’s selection process and the party leadership’s judgment.

Chambers, who is the director of elections for Fianna Fáil in this presidential election, has faced criticism from some within the party over the pressure that was put on them to back Gavin. 

He has also faced tough questions over when Fianna Fáil was made aware of Gavin’s issue with the tenant.

Speaking on Claire Byrne’s show yesterday morning, Chambers said the party was first contacted by the tenant on Saturday.

However, it has since been revealed by the Irish Independent that the paper made the party aware of an alleged issue with a tenant back in September, before Gavin was formally selected as the candidate. 

Speaking during a Budget press conference this evening, Chambers said Gavin was questioned about whether he had “any issues related to tenants” in September and that he did not disclose the overpayment issue.

“He said he had no recollection and no issue with a tenant. And obviously that’s not the case. So facts changed for him in relation to it,” Chambers said.

The minister refused to say this evening whether an external company was hired to assist with the due diligence process. 

He also refused to accept responsibility for any role in the botched Aras bid and said he would appeal to Gavin to repay the money to the tenant.