Fianna Fáil presidential election candidate Jim Gavin has said the Government’s performance on housing “is not good enough yet” and needs to improve.
He said he would, if elected, speak out “without fear or favour” on issues such as housing and seek to follow the example of President Michael D Higgins.
Mr Gavin said he was aware of the constitutional restraints of the presidency but added that “for those who don’t have a voice, I think the president’s office is a way of speaking on behalf of that”.
He said housing is “a huge challenge”.
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“For me it needs to be at the forefront of policy. I’m not a policymaker, but we need to get it right,” he said during an appearance at the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party’s think-in in Cork after campaigning in the city earlier in the day.
Asked about the Women of Honour, who have highlighted abuse in the Defence Forces, Mr Gavin said he had served in the Defence Forces for 20 years and “proudly worn the uniform of the State”.
“I think what they’ve done in the Women of Honour, they have done the State a great service to raise these issues. And I’m glad there’s a tribunal set up to look at these issues and whatever comes out, we need to learn and the Defence Forces need to learn and to take those learnings and make the place a better place for everybody.”
Asked if he had called out the mistreatment of women during his time in the organisation, Mr Gavin said he had “a really positive experience” in the Defence Forces and got great opportunities, but was aware that “isn’t the case of everybody”.
“And as I said, I think they’ve done a great service and we need to support them.”
Asked if he was aware women were being mistreated, he said that “in the environment I created in the time I was in a command position, I set very high standards. If I had any sense of that I would have taken very strong action”.
He later added that he was “shocked” by the revelations raised by the Women of Honour.
On recent claims by Fine Gael that the party believed he was a supporter, Mr Gavin acknowledged he had been approached by Fine Gael in the past.
He said “whatever party approached me, I can’t control that, but what I can control is how I respond. And I was very respectful, but I said no”.
He said Fianna Fáil has been “a big part of the Gavin family and it’s a big part of our life”.
Asked about his comments last week on Israel’s military objectives in Gaza having probably been reached, he said: “Yes, let me be clear, there is genocide taking place in Gaza ... [the Israelis] are committing war crimes. And that needs to stop, the fighting needs to stop.
“The hostages need to be handed over, unconditionally. We need to get aid into Gaza and we need to get medical relief and care to the women and children in Gaza.”
Asked about recent polls presidential election polls, Mr Gavin said he “no interest” in “polls, predictions, the bookies”.
“My focus will be on Jim Gavin’s campaign, my campaign for the presidency.”
