Fianna Fáil to stay out of race for presidency

PLEAS by Eamon Ó Cuív for Fianna Fáil to back a presidential candidate were shot down as a special committee agreed the party should not enter the race for the Áras.

Party leader Micheál Martin and his colleagues last night ruled out running a candidate, after agreeing that public anger with Fianna Fáil would see any nominee punished by voters.

The 90-minute closed-door meeting at Leinster House was described by one source as cordial, with “no banging of tables”.

Recommendations by the six-man committee will inform a decision by the 36-person parliamentary party when it meets tomorrow.

Mr Ó Cuív, the grandson of former president Éamon de Valera, appealed to his five colleagues yesterday, including leader Mr Martin.

According to an informed party source, Mr Ó Cuív made strong arguments for backing a candidate. But, mulling over recent polls on figures in the race and the public’s ill-feeling towards Fianna Fáil, it was decided to recommend against fielding a candidate.

“Eamon was the only one in favour,” the source said. “He felt there was an opportunity for the party to campaign when [poll] results were looked at and that no figure from the declared candidates had stood out yet. He talked about funding for the race coming through the party membership, with some kind of draw.”

A recent Red C poll and two internal party polls were discussed by the committee, which showed potential nominee MEP Brian Crowley only scoring between 11% and 13% of votes.

Mr Ó Cuív argued that Mr Crowley, who last week ruled out running, had matched Fine Gael’s nominee Gay Mitchell in one poll despite not even being in the race.

But the party source said: “There was no good news in any of [the polls]. [Mr Ó Cuív’s] points were valid. But we have to be realistic. It just didn’t fly.”

Mr Martin and other committee members argued against fielding a candidate because of public anger with the party.

It is feared that issues signed off on by the former Fianna Fáil-led government such as the bailout, would haunt a nominee on the campaign trail.

“The bailout and the IMF would go against them. It’s about the economy and people are annoyed with the party. The current climate is so negative for Fianna Fáil,” added a party source.

It is understood the issue of Mr Martin’s failed appeal to broadcaster Gay Byrne about running for Fianna Fáil was not raised at the committee meeting.

Opinion is split among the party’s TDs and senators about entering the presidential race. Fianna Fáil has won nearly every presidential election and always fielded a candidate.