Small parties set to back presidential candidate

THE DÁIL'S smaller parties and independent TD's are considering backing an independent candidate in the forthcoming presidential elections, it emerged last night.

As Labour leader Pat Rabbitte yesterday continued to dodge whether his party would put forward Michael D Higgins as a candidate, independent Dublin North-Central TD Finian McGrath said he had approached the other independents and smaller parties in the Dáil technical group with a view to proposing an alternative candidate. "I've been in talks with one person whom I can't disclose at the moment, but the office needs someone who is high profile, who is nationally known and who will be on the side of the poor and marginalised," he said.

Speaking on RTE's The Week In Politics, Mr McGrath said all the independent TD's and smaller parties were aware who had been asked and indicated other candidates may be approached if necessary. "We can't let the Presidency be taken over by the major political parties. We live in a democracy and regardless of the mandate of the current President, we should participate in that process.