Fianna Fáil finalises secret ballot selections for presidential candidates
Cork TD James O’Connor, right, became the latest to back Billy Kelleher, left, saying he was 'proud to support one of our own'.
The line-up for Fianna Fáil’s presidential election showdown was finalised on Friday in a day that saw dramatic campaign exits and entries.
As weather forecaster Joanna Donnelly and star Michael Flatley backed out of the race, former MMA fighter Conor McGregor contacted Dublin City Council seeking to address councillors.
A list of 16 candidates, who are due to present to Dublin City Council on September 15, includes Mr McGregor.
Candidates can get on the ballot to run if they secure the support of four councils.
Early on Friday, Ms Donnelly confirmed that she was withdrawing from the race, saying she was “wholly unprepared”.
“While I still see myself as having the qualities that I would like to see in our next Uachtaráin na hÉireann, I was naive to think that I was up to the challenges of the undertaking,” she said.
“So, I think it's best if I withdraw my request for a nomination at this point.”
Later, Mr Flatley said he had “decided not to run for President of Ireland at this time”.
“I am honoured by the encouragement and support I've received from so many people across Ireland over recent weeks, but I must put my family and my health first,” he said.
“I feel I can better serve the Irish people by continuing my work promoting Ireland and Irish culture globally.”
The Fianna Fáil nomination process, meanwhile, closed on Friday night, with Billy Kelleher and Jim Gavin receiving sufficient support to present to the parliamentary party next Tuesday, ahead of a secret ballot.
Cork TD James O’Connor became the latest to back Mr Kelleher, saying he was “proud to support one of our own”.
It comes amid suggestions that Fianna Fáil politicians have been “put under pressure” from party leadership to back Mr Gavin, the former Dublin GAA football manager.
Despite public declarations suggesting that Mr Gavin has more support, backers of Mr Kelleher are confident that many undeclared politicians will vote for him.
Sources said they are “encouraged by the fact that many people feel pressured into the decision that they are making”.
Speaking on RTÉ News, Mr Kelleher said the “beauty of the process” is the fact that there will be a secret ballot.
“The purpose of this is to ensure that we have an interrogation of the candidates, that we have an interrogation of ideas and values, and that we put forward a candidate that actually reflects the Fianna Fáil values that we want to take into the campaign,” he said.
Mr Kelleher denied that those supporting him were attempting to “undermine Micheál Martin’s leadership”.
Elsewhere, a spokesman for Fianna Fáil deputy leader Jack Chambers refuted suggestions that the public expenditure minister missed Wednesday’s Cabinet meeting to work on the campaign.
Several sources suggested earlier this week that Mr Chambers was absent as he was “out on the ground”.
A spokesman said he had “already committed” to pre-budget events in Charleville, and Killarney and a meeting with the Limerick Project Ireland 2040 delivery board.
“Nothing to do with [the] presidential election," the spokesman said.
Questions have been raised, meanwhile, about Mr Gavin’s relationship with Fine Gael.
The understands that several members of the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party asked Mr Gavin whether he had any links to Fine Gael.
He told them he did not and that he had not endorsed any candidate.
However, a picture of Fine Gael TD Emer Higgins and Mr Gavin with a message reading, “I’m voting for Emer Higgins” has surfaced in recent days.
The photo was uploaded on November 28, 2019, the day before Ms Higgins contested a by-election in Dublin Mid-West.
A version of the same picture without the “I’m voting for Emer Higgins” message had been Ms Higgins’s profile picture before this.
Senior Fianna Fáil sources insisted that Mr Gavin had not endorsed Ms Higgins in any campaign.
