Taoiseach deeply sorry with how Presidential campaign turned out

The Taoiseach told his party how deeply sorry he is about how Fianna Fáil’s Presidential campaign turned out.

It follows Jim Gavin’s withdrawal from the race for the Áras after reports he failed to pay back overpaid rent to a former tenant.

In a speech at a fundraising event, Micheál Martin said its clear the party must develop a new procedure for how to decide when to run a candidate.

He also told his party last week’s budget “struck a balance” in the face of international uncertainty.