Speech by Uachtaráin Fhianna Fáil Micheál Martin T.D. at the campaign launch of presidential candidate Jim Gavin 28th September 2025

Ladies and gentlemen, colleagues, friends, thank you for joining us this morning for the official launch of the campaign to elect Ireland’s next president, Jim Gavin.

I would first of all like to acknowledge the passing of Martin Mansergh and to again extend my sincere sympathies to his wife Liz, to his five children and to all his extended family.

Martin was a true patriot, and a great servant to our country. He was truly one of a kind – with an intellect and perspective that made him an essential component in one of the great political projects of our time, the end to armed conflict.

Martin was one of the very few people, possibly the only person ever who succeeded in the roles of civil servant, political advisor, senator, TD and Minister of State.

The thread that ran through that entire career was a dedication to service, and Martin’s unshakeable commitment to serve his country make it a better, safer and more hopeful place. We acknowledge it here, and we thank him and his family for it.

Ar dheis De a hanam dheilis.

Today is about another person who has dedicated their life to service; whose professional and personal choices throughout his adult life have been about making the country safer, communities stronger and our shared national experience more joyful and enriching.

Is ceannaire cumasach, éifeachtach, fuinniúil, nádúrtha é Jim a bheadh ina Uachtarán den chéad scoth ar son na hÉireann.

Tá cumas thar na bearta ag Jim agus scileanna idirphearsanta aige pobail a thabhairt le chéile fud fad na tíre seo.

Tá freastal déanta aige ar phobail i saol an spóirt agus thug sé guth do phobail le dúshláin san ardchathair. 

Léirigh Jim scileanna den scoth daoine a thabhairt le chéile agus éisteacht leo ina ról mar Chathaoirleach ar choistí spóirt agus ar choistí pobail le blianta beaga anuas 

Is eol dúinn go léir gur fear macánta, ionraic é Jim atá dílis dá thír agus do phobail na tíre idir óg agus aosta, agus bheadh sé ina Uachtarán nua-aimseartha cumasach don Aois nua seo ina mairimid.

Is eol don saol go bhfuil taithí aige ag leibhéal sinsearach in Óglaigh na hÉireann le fiche bliain agus ardmheas air as a chuid oibre ar fad ar son chothú na síochána.

I am talking of course about the man who I hope and believe will be our next, our tenth, Uachtarán na h’Éireann, Jim Gavin.

Over the past few months, I have taken, and valued, the opportunity to really get to know Jim Gavin.

His is an extraordinary story. Joining our Defence Forces at just 18, he went on to serve in uniform with distinction for 20 years, achieving the rank of Commandant.

During that time, he was deployed to some of the most dangerous conflict zones in the world, including as Chief of Military Aviation with the UN Mission in the Central African Republic and Chad, where he commanded personnel from more than 20 countries.

For context, that mission remains the largest civil protection operation of the 21^st century.

When leaving the military, he marshalled those decades of experience in the national interest within the Irish Aviation Authority.

He rose to achieve the position of Chief Operations Officer and now leads a team responsible for maintaining the safety of Irish skies, drafting legislation and working with international partners.

I know for certain that Jim would insist it was his team and not him, but the fact is, that his leadership has helped position Ireland as a global standard-setter in aviation safety.

And those were just the day jobs!

Jim is well known for his love of community and his commitment to volunteering – two of the reasons why the Government of Ireland asked him to lead on a particularly important initiative, the North-East Inner-City Taskforce.

In that role he has been relentless in his dedication and hard work, interacting with agencies across and outside government to deliver for communities facing real challenges.

And along the way of course, he also found time to forge his legacy as the most successful manager, and possibly the most radical innovator, in the history of one of our country’s most significant and most successful national cultural or sporting institution, the GAA.

Through that work, he has engaged, competed, celebrated, commiserated, but most importantly connected with communities in cities, towns and villages in all 32 counties of our shared island.

And he has done all this, and more, with a quiet and self-effacing grace, humour and determination.

Which brings me back to the months I spent over the summer getting to know Jim.

In addition to this unique and impressive life story, what became very clear to me was the depth and clarity of his understanding of what being President means.

He understands that at its best, the role of President is that of a unifier — someone with the connection, vision and experience to bring people together at home and to represent us with pride and authority on the world stage, engaging with other world leaders and connecting an Irish diaspora that spans the entire globe.  

Our First Citizen, the Commander in Chief of our Defence Forces, our President should be someone who embodies what our nation does best and is steeped in the values of our communities and our country.

Our next president should be someone who loves the country, understands our place in the world, is committed to the multilateral structures that have underpinned our progress and our success, and someone who we know will never drop the ball.

Our next president should be Jim Gavin.

I know that Jim has thought deeply and seriously about his decision to offer himself to the country for this next act of service.

He does so now with the love and support of his wife, his rock, Jennifer, his son Jude and daughter Jasmine.

He does so with the united and determined support of the Fianna Fáil organisation across the country.

And he does so with much more than that. Because I believe that the Irish people understand the value of the Presidency not being about narrow party political or ideological advantage.

All across the country many people have already seen what Jim Gavin is about – love of family, community and country, dedication to a shared cause, and proven leadership.

The job for Jim and for all of us now is to bring that message to everyone who will make this important decision on 24^th October.

Jim has already demonstrated his trademark focus and discipline in pursuit of the task, speaking to many thousands of people at the national ploughing championship and having already toured 15 constituencies in the few short weeks since his selection as the Fianna Fáil candidate.

We will fight an energetic and positive campaign,

focussing on the actual role and importance of the office,

and confident in the knowledge that we have a candidate with the temperament, the skills, the energy, the personal and professional experience,

as well as the vision to be a President that the whole country can be proud of.

And now, it is my privilege and honour to welcome to the stage that person, Jim Gavin.