The Green Party Parliamentary Party yesterday unanimously decided to propose Dublin South TD Mr Eamon Ryan to the party's National Council as its presidential election candidate.
Following a lengthy meeting, the six TDs accepted Mr Ryan's explanations for the events leading up to his public declaration on RTÉ's News at One on Monday.
However, the Green Party's deputy leader, Ms Mary White, who will attend Saturday's National Council meeting, has expressed doubt about contesting the election. Speaking to The Irish Times, she said: "I would be on the cautious wing of the party about entering the election. I would like to see us gearing up for the next general election. We had a mixed local election. We lost the two European seats. I would be in favour of us conserving our resources and our manpower," she said.
The endorsement of Mr Ryan's ambitions by the parliamentary party is subject to the National Council, which meets in Clonakilty, Co Cork, on Saturday, "being satisfied" that it has necessary resources to fight a campaign. Despite being short of the necessary 20 Oireachtas nomination signatures, the Greens are not prepared to tie Labour support for Mr Ryan's nomination to any future coalition negotiations.
Last night the Green Party leader, Mr Trevor Sargent, said: "I am not going to confuse the office of President with a possible national coalition."
The party's chairman, Mr John Gormley, told The Irish Times: "We would never use the Presidency as a bargaining chip in coalition talks. That would be completely improper." The presidential bid by Mr Ryan has opened up sharply differing opinions within the party, with some feeling that money should be saved for the next general election campaign.
Speaking later, Mr Sargent said they were "very fortunate to have a potential candidate of the calibre of Eamon Ryan. Eamon is a young and articulate family man and he presents a clear vision of how Ireland needs to change if it is to realise its full potential and be sustainable in the future. He is a strong and passionate communicator of a Green vision for Ireland and the Green Party is very fortunate to have a potential candidate of his calibre."
Mr Gormley said he had "no doubt" but that Mr Ryan would be an excellent candidate and "indeed a first-class President".
However, both Mr Sargent and Mr Gormley insisted repeatedly that the National Council would have the final say on whether the party contests the election.
Praising Mr Ryan's ambitions, Co Clare Cllr Brian Meaney said: "Political parties should fight every election that comes along. We are in the business of fighting elections."
Cork city Cllr Chris O'Leary was equally supportive: "I am quite delighted that he has decided to go. You can see the momentum building up behind him."
Dún Laoghaire/Rathdown Cllr Tom Kilvehan, who is a member of the National Council, described Mr Ryan "as a very charismatic figure. A candidate like him would say something about the modern Ireland. He works hard, is successful, is a family man. He has all the attributes that would make a good President."
Questioned about the party's shortage of money, he said: "The Greens are used to fighting elections with small resources. We usually find the ways and the means to fight."
Mr Ryan has not made approaches to either Independent TDs seeking their support for his nomination, or to members of the Labour Parliamentary Party. He told The Irish Times it had been important to spend yesterday "smoothing out" difficulties that had emerged on Monday.
"I apologised to certain people that they had not been kept fully informed."
He said he did not intend to approach individual members of the Labour Parliamentary Party for their support if the party decided not to contest the election itself, or if the party decided formally not to support his own nomination.
"Each party has its own processes. I would not want to interfere with them," said Mr Ryan, who is aged 41 and the father of four children.
Meanwhile, Independent TCD Senator Shane Ross has said: "I welcome the prospect of a contest for the presidency.
"I will be seeking a meeting of the Independent university Senators in order to consider if there is common ground for supporting Eamon Ryan or any other possible presidential candidates who want the support of Independent members of the Oireachtas," Senator Ross said.
