The race for the presidency gathered pace on Tuesday, with Fine Gael nominating former European commissioner Mairead McGuinness and Independent TD Catherine Connolly expected to formally launch her candidacy on Wednesday.
There are also moves under way to organise a nomination, via the support of at least 20 Oireachtas members, of another Independent candidate. Businessman Declan Ganley was said to be contacting TDs and Senators about support for a potential presidential run.
Ms McGuinness’s name will go forward for ratification at a Fine Gael event in September, which will mark the start of the party’s presidential election campaign.
She said she is “conscious of the opportunity and challenge ahead, given the very important constitutional role of the President, and the esteem in which the office is held by the people.
RM Block
“Subject to my candidacy being ratified by the party in early September, I very much look forward to setting out my vision.”
Meanwhile, the Labour Party is to issue a “consultative survey” to its membership on the presidency on Wednesday after it met with Ms Connolly on Tuesday as she sought to build support for her nomination among Oireachtas members.
Ms Connolly is seen as likely to drum up sufficient support without needing Labour’s votes. The party said its meeting with the Independent TD, who was a Labour member until 2006, was “constructive and respectful”. Its executive board will meet with its TDs and senators on July 31st to discuss and agree an approach to the Presidency.
One Labour source said Ms Connolly had responded well to questions about her positions on foreign policy, viewed by some as a potential vulnerability on the campaign trail, but that her vision for the presidency needs to be clearer.
Ms McGuinness’s nomination means there will be no internal contest within Fine Gael, which some in the party had favoured. Party sources indicated she would be meeting voters across the country in the coming weeks but they predicted it would be some time before her campaign proper gets underway with media engagements.
Ms McGuinness wrote to members saying she expected the campaign to be “full-on” when it starts.
Meanwhile, Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín has written to 25 Oireacthas members seeking their support for a “nominating caucus” that would coordinate to choose a candidate to nominate for the presidency.
In a letter to the TDs and senators, Mr Tóibín said the two candidates in the field would make for a “very one-dimensional” race and that 30-40 per cent of the population would find that their issues, concerns and values are not part of the campaign.
He said there is an opportunity to shape the debate and the next seven years of the presidency but potential candidates engaging bilaterally with smaller parties and independents risk a “haphazard approach, with no direction or impetus”.
He wants TDs and senators to join together and vote for a candidate decided by proportional representation with a single transferable vote, who they would then agree to nominate. Aontú and Independent Ireland would likely be key building blocks for another independent candidate looking to enter the race through the support of 20 Oireachtas members.
Independent Ireland’s leader, Michael Collins, confirmed his party has met with Mr Ganley, telecommunications entrepreneur, about a potential presidential run. “We had discussions with him, but we have had discussions with others and we haven’t made up our mind as to who we will support,” he said.
Independent Senator Gerard Craughwell confirmed he too had spoken with Mr Ganley and had “indicated I would support him if the numbers stack up” as he favoured a “real competition” for the presidency. Mr Ganley had no comment when contacted.
Fianna Fáil and Sinn Féin are expected to continue deliberations on their approach to the presidential race in the weeks ahead.
