Mairead McGuinness will be Fine Gael's candidate for the presidential election

The former MEP was the only name put forward as Fine Gael nominations closed 

Mairead McGuinness’s name will go forward for ratification at a party event in September. Picture: NW Newspix

Former MEP Mairead McGuinness will be Fine Gael's candidate for this year's presidential election.

Ms McGuinness was the only name put forward as Fine Gael nominations closed on Tuesday afternoon.

To be nominated, a candidate required the nomination of at least 20 members of the Fine Gael parliamentary party, 25 councillors and five members of the Fine Gael executive council.

Ms McGuinness’s name will go forward for ratification at a party event in September.

Tánaiste and Fine Gael leader Simon Harris said: “The Fine Gael party is pleased to confirm Mairead McGuinness has been nominated as our candidate for the presidential election and will be ratified by the party in September.

“Mairead has secured the support of the parliamentary party and the wider Fine Gael organisation. I look forward to working with her over the coming months.

“Presidential elections are always an important point for the country. I believe Mairead possesses all the attributes to bring our nation together at this important time."

In a letter to members, Ms McGuinness said she is "conscious of the opportunity and challenge ahead".

"Subject to my candidacy being ratified by the party in early September, I very much look forward to setting out my vision for the presidency. And I look forward to working with you all over the coming weeks and months. The campaign, when it starts, will be full-on.

"I do hope that you manage to get to enjoy some down time with family and friends before September."

While the Fine Gael nomination closes, another prospective candidate, Catherine Connolly, will meet with the Labour parliamentary party in a bid to secure its backing for her candidacy.

Ms Connolly already has the support of 18 of the required 20 members of the Oireachtas for her nomination, but she will ask Labour to back her as the combined left-wing candidate.

Last Friday, after Ms Connolly confirmed she was seeking a nomination, having been backed by the Social Democrats and People Before Profit, a Labour Party spokesperson confirmed that she would address the party after meeting with leader Ivana Bacik last week.

Despite the race beginning in earnest, there is still no indication of how Fianna Fáil and Sinn Féin will proceed.

Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald is still mulling over a consultation carried out with party members and last week did not rule out a tilt at the job herself.

However, party sources said that she is unlikely to leave her role as a TD.

Within Fianna Fáil, sources said that suggestions Taoiseach Micheál Martin would be the party’s best candidate were wide of the mark, with one senior source saying they still believed that a Fianna Fáil nominee will emerge over the summer.