FF offer to nominate Byrne for presidency

It has reported that the Fianna Fáil Leader Micheal Martin contacted broadcaster Gay Byrne over the weekend to guarantee him the support of the party.

It has reported that the Fianna Fáil Leader Micheál Martin contacted broadcaster Gay Byrne last the weekend to guarantee him the support of the party.

According to two national newspaper reports, Mr Martin told the former 'Late Late Show' host that Fianna Fáil Oireachtas members could facilitate his nomination as an Independent candidate.

The 77-year-old has not yet made a decision whether to run. He is due to meet with family next week to discuss the possibility.

He said that he had made no decision on running for the presidency.

"I’ll talk to the family, ask them, see what they think, see how they react and see what we’re going to do," Mr Byrne told the Irish Examiner.

"I would be an Independent candidate, but they are happy to give me their backing. Nobody has ever said to me: ‘we want your answer by 12 noon on Wednesday’. [They’ve] never put a time limit on it. My understanding is people don’t have to put their names down until September 1.

"[Fianna Fáil] just threw it at me. They’d spoken to me. They said: ‘If you want, you can run’."

The Presidential election is due to take place on October 27.