Kelly will not seek FG Presidential nomination

FINE GAEL MEP and former GAA president Sean Kelly confirmed yesterday that he would not seek the party’s nomination to contest the Presidential election.

He follows former Taoiseach and Fine Gael leader John Bruton in deciding not to run to replace President Mary McAleese.

The announcement will fuel speculation that the party may yet turn to Pat Cox to be its nominee.

The decisions of Mr Bruton and Mr Kelly to bow out leaves another Fine Gael MEP, Máiréad McGuinness, as the sole party figure seeking the nomination.

Although a high-profile politician, Ms McGuinness failed to win a seat in the Dáil in the 2007 general election.

There are fears within the party that she will not be a strong enough candidate — leading to the persistent speculation about Mr Cox.

A former European Parliament president, Independent MEP and Progressive Democrats TD, Mr Cox acted in an advisory capacity to Fine Gael during its transition to government.

He has already taken soundings about a Presidential bid, saying recently: “I have moved along a gear, if I could put it that way. I have started now to consult with a lot of the people who were actually in touch to see what view they have about the feasibility through the various available sources of looking for a nomination.”

Mr Kelly, for his part, said he wished to concentrate on his work as an MEP for the time being.

“Having considered it, I felt I had spent only two years in politics, and that I was really only getting going, and that to pull back (from the European Parliament) at this stage would not be the best thing for me or my constituency,” he said yesterday.