McAleese to announce intention to seek second term

Mary McAleese is expected to announce her intention to seek a second term as President of Ireland at a press conference in Áras an Uachtarain this morning.

Mrs McAleese is expected to nominate herself for the October 22 election, meaning she will not have the formal backing of Fianna Fáil, which nominated her in 1997.

Three other people, Green Party TD Eamon Ryan, former MEP Rosemary Dana Scallon and Sligo man Kevin Lee, are also seeking nominations for the presidency, though it is unclear if any of them will succeed in getting their names on the ballot paper.

They need the support of either four county councils or 20 members of the Oireachtas to secure a nomination.