Taoiseach backs former Dublin manager Jim Gavin for president
Jim Gavin addresses delegates during the GAA Special Congress last year at Croke Park in Dublin. Picture: Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile
The Taoiseach has given his backing to former Dublin gaelic football manager Jim Gavin to be Fianna Fáil's nominee for the presidency, setting the stage for an internal party battle.
Mr Gavin has long been linked with a bid for the nomination, but officially entered the race for the presidency on Saturday, asking members of the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party to nominate him.
Mr Gavin has long been speculated as the party leadership's pick for the role, but has kept his silence until now.
In a letter sent to TDs, senators, and MEPs, Mr Gavin said he is "very honoured to have been approached" by members over the last number of months.
Mr Gavin goes on to set out his vision of the presidency, writing: "I believe that, in these turbulent times, Ireland needs a president who can bring people together and promote and represent our shared values and interests at home and abroad.
"I am asking for, and would be privileged to receive, your support based on my lifelong commitment to public service and my vision for the campaign and presidency."
Mr Gavin adds that he had taken on requests from the Government, including "making proposals for improving the governance of our capital city and leading the North East Inner City’s task force working to make this part of our capital city safe, attractive and a vibrant place to live and work in".
Mr Gavin's candidacy has been backed by the party's leadership, with Taoiseach Micheál Martin on Saturday saying that he wanted to see the former GAA boss as the party nominee and the President.
"I have had a lot of engagement with him and I believe, in this era, he is the person I think best placed to represent the Irish people as president.
"I would make the point that on three previous occasions, Fianna Fáil has nominated people who never had experience as a TD or a minister, Cearbhall Ó Dálaigh, Mary McAleese, Douglas Hyde," he said in Co Kerry.
Mr Gavin has the backing of all of Fianna Fáil's cabinet ministers, with Norma Foley and Darragh O'Brien endorsing him on Sunday.
Mr Gavin is likely to face off against Ireland South MEP Billy Kelleher in a vote to be decided by the parliamentary party.
Mr Kelleher has contacted TDs and senators in recent days and, in an email sent on Friday, officially informed members that he wants to be the party's nominee to replace Michael D Higgins.
However, both Mr Gavin and Mr Kelleher could face a challenge from former party leader Bertie Ahern who, on Friday, criticised Mr Martin and refused to rule himself out from seeking the nomination. A member of Mr Ahern's Cabinet, Mary Hanafin, also criticised Mr Martin for not communicating to her that she would not have his backing.
“I was certainly treated with respect at the very beginning of it. As it came towards the end, I have to say, and I said this to Micheál Martin the other night, a phone call would have made a difference.
“Just to say ‘look, sorry Mary, we're not running with you’, and I would have accepted that.”
