Senator: FF candidate should be 'proud to wear party logo'

A Fianna Fáil senator has said that his party needs to put up a candidate for the Presidency who would be proud to wear the party logo.

Kerry's Senator Ned O'Sullivan is the first leading figure in Fianna Fáil to openly criticise his party leader's offer to support Gay Byrne if he decides to run for President.

Senator O'Sullivan said he has no problem with Gay Byrne, insisting that if the 77-year-old broadcaster went before the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party along with other aspiring candidates and was selected in that fashion, then he would have his full support.

However, he said, Fianna Fáil needs to stop "shadow boxing" and put up a candidate who would be proud to wear the party logo - an implicit criticism of leader Micheál Martin who says Gay Byrne would be under no obligation to run under the Fianna Fáil mantle.

Senator O'Sullivan said a parliamentary party meeting should be held as soon as possible to determine the party position rather than have individual members going solo on the issue.

He also stressed that he does not favour any particular candidate to represent his party.