FORMER government adviser Fergus Finlay has written to the Labour Party seeking to be nominated as its candidate for the presidency of Ireland when the term of office of Mary McAleese expires next autumn.
Senior Labour sources confirmed last night that Mr Finlay, who was a key adviser to former party leader and tánaiste Dick Spring, has written to the party leadership to seek the nomination.
It is understood that, in his letter, Mr Finlay, currently chief executive of the children's charity Barnardo's, urges that the party give consideration to the kind of process it might use in selecting a presidential candidate.
He also sets out a number of points relating to his agenda for the presidency and the reasons his background would make him a suitable candidate.
"We would expect there would be other candidates," a Labour source said. It is understood that Galway West TD and former minister Michael D. Higgins may be interested in running.
The issue would initially have to come before the party executive, which holds its next meeting at the end of this month, although Labour sources said it was unlikely a decision on the party's approach to the election would be made until next spring "at the earliest", particularly with a general election expected to take place within the next 12 months.
