McGuinness joins race for presidency

FINE GAEL MEP Mairéad McGuinness has announced her intention to seek her party’s nomination for president in the October election.

Ms McGuiness said encouragement from supporters had convinced her to declare her interest.

“Of late, as I go around the country, I am regularly asked if I intend to seek a nomination to run for election to the presidency of Ireland. I am honoured and humbled that people would even ask me that question,” she said.

“I will be delighted and honoured if my party gives me the opportunity to go before the people to work with you as your president in imagining a renewed, creative and dynamic Ireland.”

Ms McGuinness is on the shortlist of three candidates produced by Fine Gael last month. The other prospects for the party’s nomination are former Taoiseach John Bruton and MEP Sean Kelly, former President of the Gaelic Athletic Association.

Independent Senator David Norris has already declared his intention for the presidency — and is the bookies’ favourite — while former TD Michael D Higgins and Barnardos’ chief executive Fergus Finlay are vying for the Labour Party nomination.

Last night a spokesman for Fine Gael said that the Party welcomed Ms McGuinness's interest in running for the Presidency but no decision has been made on a time-scale for choosing a candidate.

“The matter will be discussed at the forthcoming national executive meeting on 19 April,” said the spokesman.