FIANNA FÁIL is unlikely to run a candidate in the forthcoming presidential election, senior party sources said last night. The special party subcommittee on the issue will meet for the first time on Monday.
Meanwhile, sports broadcaster Micheál Ó Muircheartaigh is expected to clarify his position tomorrow, amid a general expectation that he will not seek an independent nomination.
The Fianna Fáil parliamentary party is to meet next Wednesday. The party press office pointed out that this was a regular meeting in advance of the new Dáil term, although the issue of the presidency was likely to arise.
Sources close to the presidency subcommittee said it was unlikely the party would field a candidate because of the cost and the limited prospect of success.
There was mixed reaction inside the party to the announcement by Ireland South MEP Brian Crowley that he would not be seeking the Fianna Fáil nomination.
Mr Crowley implicitly criticised the Fianna Fáil leader but other party sources said that, if he failed to win the support of Mr Martin, he could have taken his case to the parliamentary party.
The real issue, say party insiders, is that a presidential campaign would cost between €500,000 and €700,000 but with very little prospect of winning.
The money would have to be borrowed and this would also present difficulties. “What bank would provide Fianna Fáil now with that kind of money?” asked one senior party figure.
“The party doesn’t want to run in a race it can’t win,” the party source added.
Far better, he said, to conserve resources until the next local and European elections due in 2014.
Speaking on Raidió na Gaeltachta’s Adhmhaidin programme yesterday morning, Fianna Fáil deputy leader Éamon Ó Cuív said there were different views on the issue in the party but he personally favoured running a candidate.
“There are two opinions within the party, there’s no doubt about that.
“Some people think that we should field a candidate and others don’t believe that we should. I have said from the start that I think that we should field a candidate.
“My opinion on the matter is that we’re a party with a particular outlook and a particular stance, and in cases like that parties usually field a candidate. From the outset I was in favour of fielding a candidate. However, I will accept the majority decision on the matter,” Mr Ó Cuív said.
The former social protection minister and grandson of Éamon de Valera would not be drawn on whether he was considering putting himself forward as a candidate.
The presidency subcommittee consists of Mr Martin and Mr Ó Cuív, party whip Seán Ó Fearghaíl, TDs Dara Calleary and Timmy Dooley and Senator Darragh O’Brien.
Fianna Fáil has taken no position on the possible candidacy of Mr Ó Muircheartaigh and the party press office said there had been “no official contact” with him.
Meanwhile, Independent presidential candidate Mary Davis has met the lobby group Age Action Ireland to discuss “her vision for the presidency and how the role of president can be a powerful advocate for older people”.
Ms Davis said in a statement: “The many issues of concern to older people in society, be it rural transport, health or income matters, are real and immediate, and should be given the public attention they deserve.”
