Fianna Fáil is set to have an internal contest to select its presidential candidate as MEP Billy Kelleher says he has enough nominations to enter the race.
Former Dublin football manager Jim Gavin enjoys the declared support of 24 members of the parliamentary party, including Taoiseach and party leader Micheál Martin, and all senior Cabinet Ministers.
Minister of State Thomas Byrne is the latest prominent Fianna Fáil politician to confirm support for Mr Gavin.
So far Mr Kelleher has just three party colleagues who have publicly declared support for him - MEP Barry Andrews, TD Pádraig O’Sullivan and Senator Paul Daly.
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Former taoiseach Bertie Ahern has one declared supporter in Senator Niall Blaney, should he seek to enter the race.
However, 42 Fianna Fáil representatives have not made public declarations of support for either Mr Gavin or Mr Kelleher.
A vote among Fianna Fáil’s 71-strong parliamentary party to select its presidential candidate is to take place next Tuesday by secret ballot.
Mr Kelleher and his backers hope to pick up support among the ranks of their undeclared colleagues.
Potential Fianna Fáil candidates need five nominations from parliamentary party members to enter the internal selection contest.
Mr Kelleher told The Irish Times: “I have been nominated with more than sufficient numbers.”
He declined to say which colleagues are nominating him, saying: “The fact of the matter is some people declare, some people don’t.
“I’m very comfortable with the reception I’m getting and the fact that there’s quite a substantial number of TDs and Senators have not expressed a view and are open for discussion, willing to meet.”
He added: “Ultimately, I’ll be going to the parliamentary party confident that I will have sufficient numbers to be selected.”
Regarding what he will tell colleagues on why he should be president, Mr Kelleher spoke about how he has been “in public life” since 1992 and has “stood for” Fianna Fáil values.
He said he has been consistently elected as a TD in Cork North Central, spent time as the party’s health spokesman, and took stances in favour of the successful “Yes” sides in the referendums on marriage equality and the Repeal the Eighth Amendment on abortion.
During his time in the European Parliament, he has been vocal on Palestine and Ukraine.
Mr Kelleher said: “I feel I can be adjudicated in a positive manner by my colleagues, but more importantly, if they select me, I can then start engaging with the broader electorate.
“Then we can start outlining our plan for the presidency, what it entails,” he continued, referring to “how we can make it evolve into what is needed for the new Ireland that’s developing in front of our eyes”.
Asked whether he had any concerns about Mr Gavin’s support from the party leader and other senior figures, Mr Kelleher said: “All I can do is face what is in front of me.
“The fact of the matter is that 70 of my parliamentary colleagues will make a decision next Tuesday. I’ve been nominated. Jim Gavin has been nominated. There may be others.”
Mr Kelleher said he would seek to convince enough of his colleagues that he is “best placed to represent the party and broaden the appeal of the party to win the presidential election in October”.
