THE Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht, Mr Higgins has said he is not ruling out the possibility of running for the Presidency next November in the event of a contest being held.
Speaking on Telifis na Gaeilge's news programme last night, he accepted that there was speculation about his name in regard to the post and asked if he was ruling himself out, he replied he wasn't.
Mr Higgins is being quoted by Paddy Power bookmakers as a 16-1 chance for the Presidency while Fianna Fail's Mr David Andrews leads the field at 3-1.
It is no real surprise that Mr Andrews has been deemed the most likely candidate to end up in the Park. Ever since Mrs Robinson's announcement, many were betting that he would be the one to go all the way.
The big two beside Mr Andrews are no surprise either. John Hume at 4-1 would be a popular choice - pundits maintain his previous form in the peace stakes augurs well for victory. At 5-1 former Taoiseach Albert Reynolds is third favourite.
A short distance from the favourites a number of proven contenders appear to be battling it out. Before her debut run at Montrose, many thought Fianna Fail's Maire Geoghegan-Quinn was putting herself out to pasture but she is now keenly backed at 6-1.
Odds on Mr Charles Haughey were a definitely-worth-a-few-quid price of 20-1.
Sports stars are thin on the ground - unless you count the constantly moving fund-raiser for Chernobyl victims, Adi Roche (40-1). Triple Olympic Gold Medallist Michelle Smith could also be one to watch at 1,000-1.
Those with money to burn could throw caution to the (candle-lit) window and place an each-way bet on one of the candidates who one bookie said "hadn't a snowball's chance in hell" of ever making it to the Park.
These include the President's friend and assistant, Bride Rosney (1,000-1); Ian Paisley (5,000-1); Bono (5,000-1) and the Spice Girl with flame-coloured tresses, Geri Halliwell (10,000-1). The bookies could be making a blunder by placing Dustin the Turkey (5,000-1) so far out of the running.
The dark horse in this essentially three-horse race is Garret FitzGerald. In at a respectable 25-1, he was creeping up comfortably yesterday, with bookies offering new odds of 12-1.