Crowley eyes President job

MUNSTER Fianna Fáil MEP Brian Crowley has revealed he would like to run for President.

While this is his first clear declaration of interest in the post, Mr Crowley also effectively ruled himself out of the running should President Mary McAleese decide to stand for a second term.

Mr Crowley, who has attracted a record number of votes in the European elections, has been linked with the job since 1997. However, he was too young to stand at that time because the Constitution only allows candidates over 35 years of age to run in presidential elections.

The Bandon-born MEP said the job is an attractive one, but he hopes Mary McAleese will not stand down when her term finishes in the autumn.

Asked if the job would interest him, he said: “It would of course, it’s the highest office in the country, so therefore it would.

“The President that we have is a fantastic holder of the office and I hope she will stand again.”

President McAleese appointed Mr Crowley, 39, to serve on her advisory Council of State after she took up office.

“We’ve been lucky that we’ve always had the right President for the right time and I’m confident that will continue,” he said.

Mr Crowley polled 35% of the first preference votes in the Munster constituency in 1999 and he begins his re-election campaign later this month.

“My first job in 2004 is to get re-elected to the European Parliament and I’ve a party convention taking place on January 25 that I have to get through.”

Mr Crowley first came to prominence when the then Taoiseach Albert Reynolds appointed him to the Seanad in 1993.

“In January 1993 I was a night-time law student in UCC and then became a senator and later an MEP. I didn’t expect that to happen, so you never know what the future will hold.”

He has been one of the most active Irish members of the European Parliament and has set up offices across the six counties of Munster to build his support base.

This should ensure a huge vote for him in the southern part of the country if he decides to run for President in November or in seven years’ time.