An urgent need to bring marginalised people into mainstream society was one of the things which Mr Derek Nally said he would hope to promote if elected President.
The former garda and now honorary president of Victim Support said yesterday he was interested in standing for the office following approaches from a number of people.
The approaches came, he said, after the Evening Herald published a list of people who might make good Presidents. "Following that, I was approached by a few people, most of whom I know."
He said he was under no illusions about the difficulties of getting a nomination to run and doubted if the necessary four local authorities would nominate him as they were controlled by the political parties.
The alternative was to get backing from 20 members of the Oireachtas. His friends had taken some soundings and "there would be an indication that if the political parties opted for a neutral kind of candidate my name would be among them".
Asked what sort of President he would be, he said he would "try to refocus in on Irish society and look at the whole area of the marginalised in society".
Something needed to be done about the redistribution of wealth, otherwise "there's a grave danger that, in 10 to 15 years' time, you could have a fairly major revolt from young people".
Young people, he said, were becoming disillusioned. The needs of old people and of those who were physically or mentally vulnerable must also receive attention. He believed environmental issues, especially littering, need to be addressed. "We have a beautiful country but in many ways we are destroying it. We should be ashamed of ourselves."
Mr Nally was 30 years a garda, the last 10 as general secretary of the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors. He retired in 1983.
He was involved in youth services with the National Youth Foundation, on European youth committees and with the Irish Youth Foundation. Today, he is best known for his work with Victim Support, but would resign as its honorary president if nominated to run for President.
"I have never had any political affiliations," he said. When he retired, he was approached by Mr Des O'Malley to join the Progressive Democrats, but "I declined and didn't get involved".
Mr Nally, who is 60, said he would be "a one-term man". He is married and has two adult daughters. He runs a security and investigation company. Although he is from Co Tipperary, he said he regarded himself "as an adopted Wexford man" - he lives in Bunclody - after 40 years in the county.
He said he had no machine behind him. "I have nothing behind me really, only myself."