Parties in early discussions on fielding a combined left-wing candidate for the presidency

One Sinn Féin source said a key ask will be that whomever is backed supports a united Ireland

There is no consensus candidate for Sinn Féin, Labour and the Social Democrats, though independent TD Catherine Connolly is seen as one potential candidate. File picture: Arthur Carron/Collins

The prospect of a combined presidential candidate being run by Ireland's left-wing parties will become clearer in the coming weeks as Sinn Féin canvasses its members.

A number of early discussions have taken place between Sinn Féin, Labour and the Social Democrats about putting forward a candidate to succeed Michael D Higgins without any concrete proposals around how a candidate would be selected. 

One of the earliest names tipped, independent senator Frances Black, said that she was "98%" out of the race over the weekend, telling Newstalk's Anton Savage that she had been open to the conversation.

“And after that, nothing has happened. I haven’t heard anymore. There’s been no discussions,” she said.

“It’s not something I’m seeking. It’s not something I’m actively looking for. I’ve seen how other campaigns have been run, and they have been - I could only describe - blood baths. So it’s not something that I would want, to be honest with you.

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“I suppose there’s a part of me that feels, if I’m the right person – I’m not sure I am – but if I am the right person, then that’s the 2%. And I do feel I have a responsibility to consider it. That’s really what it is. That’s all it is.”

While some in Sinn Féin had been cool on Ms Black as a candidate, sources said this did not mean the party is against a combined candidate. Instead, the party has asked for feedback from members, with a process closing this weekend which will guide the party's leadership on how to proceed. 

The process has been carried out because the party believes it did not adequately consult members in 2018, when the party opted to run then-MEP Liadh Ní Riada against Mr Higgins, despite his huge popularity. She would finish fourth with 6.4% of the vote, with sources now admitting that running a candidate was a mistake.

"We got it wrong in 2018, so we're trying to take on more feedback from members this time. It will guide a lot of what our next moves are," a senior party source said.

Potential candidates

Sinn Féin sources have insisted that there is no resistance to the idea of supporting a combined candidate, but one source said a key ask will be that whomever is backed supports a united Ireland.

With Ms Black considering herself out of the race, there is no consensus candidate for the left groups, though independent TD Catherine Connolly is seen as one potential candidate.

While former WHO Deputy Director Mike Ryan has been touted, there has been no progress on his potential candidacy. Mr Ryan was dropped from the new executive management team at the WHO last month amid a funding shortfall due to US cuts. That has seen the 60-year-old Sligo man mentioned as a potential nominee for the role, with his name flagged within internal discussions of the Labour Party.

However, it is understood that for now there has been no advancement on his candidacy. A Fine Gael source said that while Mr Ryan would be "a very good candidate", their party is keen to run a candidate and win the election.

Former European commissioner Mairead McGuinness is seen as the front-runner.