VOTE:FIANNA FÁIL TDs and Senators will be voting as "private citizens" in the presidential election on Thursday, many of them said when asked about their voting intentions by The Irish Times.
Former ceann comhairle Séamus Kirk, a TD for Louth, said he would be voting for Independent candidate Seán Gallagher, but others who responded stressed that Fianna Fáil had decided not to endorse any candidate and said their votes were private.
Mr Gallagher was Mr Kirk’s director of elections in 2007.
Cork North Central TD Billy Kelleher said: “As you know, we decided as a party not to endorse any candidate, so I will be voting as a private citizen and making my decision based on the information to hand.”
Mayo TD Dara Calleary said the matter was a “private decision” and he would therefore not be revealing his voting intentions. Clare TD Timmy Dooley also said he would be voting privately.
Barry Cowen, TD for Laois-Offaly, said he would not be endorsing or publicly supporting any of the candidates.
“My vote will be a private matter,” Mr Cowen added.
Cavan-Monaghan deputy Brendan Smyth said: “I will be voting as a private citizen and, as you know, the Fianna Fáil party decided not to endorse any candidate.”
Senators Thomas Byrne, Brian Ó Dómhnaill, Ned O’Sullivan and Terry Leyden all said they would be voting as a “private citizen”.
The Fianna Fáil parliamentary party agreed last month that its TDs and Senators should not nominate candidates.
Senator Labhrás Ó Murchú, who had asked leader Micheál Martin to allow the party’s parliamentarians a free vote so he could try running as an Independent, withdrew his name.
Fianna Fáil MEP Brian Crowley wanted to contest the presidential election, but withdrew when it became clear the leadership would not endorse his candidacy.
Mr Martin asked veteran broadcaster Gay Byrne to run as an Independent candidate facilitated by Fianna Fáil, but the former Late Late Showhost declined.
