Cox rules out pursuing presidential candidacy through local authorities
Cork city councillor Tim Brosnan said he felt the former TD and MEP and ex-president of the European Parliament was badly advised to seek a political nomination in the first place.
Mr Brosnan suggested Mr Cox should now consider seeking a nomination from the country’s city or country councils because “he is the right person for the job at this critical time in Ireland’s history”.
Mr Cox lost in his bid to get the Fine Gael nomination after the party chose Dublin MEP Gay Mitchell last weekend.
“His rejection by Fine Gael was short-sighted. And that is no slight on Gay Mitchell,” Mr Brosnan said.
“I would go so far as to ask the other candidates to withdraw from the race now. We are in a serious financial mess, and in extraordinary circumstances. We need someone of Pat Cox’s calibre as president, someone who can open doors in Europe and speak with authority.
“I don’t know him but it’s time to put politics aside, and be above politics.”
But Mr Cox, who joined Fine Gael last month, said while he was grateful to Mr Brosnan for his suggestion, he would not take it up.
“A few other people since last Saturday week have privately suggested to me that I do the same,” Mr Cox said.
“I laid out my stall in a particular context and went in to a hotly contested contest and I am happy to abide by the results of that contest and its consequences. I took my chances and have to take the consequences of the outcome.”
He said he has a sense of “disappointment and serenity” with the outcome but no sense of regret for having contested. And he said it would be wrong to seek a nomination again through other channels.
Both he and Ireland East MEP Mairead McGuinness, who also lost out on the nomination, have pledged to support Mr Mitchell’s campaign.
Meanwhile, independent presidential candidate Seán Gallagher has launched his campaign website ahead of the first stop on his “listening tour” of the country.
The Dragons’ Den star, who has received motions of support from Longford, Roscommon, Donegal, Clare and Leitrim county councils, will be in Galway today.
He will visit Ballinasloe first, then attend the West of Ireland Networking Conference in the Clayton Hotel, before attending the opening of Irish Organic Weedkiller’s expanded premises.
His day will conclude with a meet and greet at the curtain-call for the Misterman play at the Black Box Theatre.
