Taoiseach's backing of Jim Gavin 'not at all' politically embarrassing, says Billy Kelleher

Billy Kelleher (right) said Micheál Martin's (left) decision was 'not at all' politically embarrassing to him.

Ireland South MEP Billy Kelleher has insisted that it “didn’t come as a shock” that Taoiseach Micheál Martin endorsed former Dublin football manager Jim Gavin as his choice of Fianna Fáil's presidential candidate.

He said Mr Martin's decision was “not at all” politically embarrassing to him.

Mr Kelleher said he had never “taken anything personally” during the course of his political career. He insisted that he had a “very professional relationship” with Mr Martin going back many years.

"I can remember when I was starting out first, he was very supportive [to me]. He was ahead of me — he was elected ahead of me in Cork. I came on the scene in 1992. He had been there in advance of that. He was a frontbench spokesperson in the 1990s.

"I accept he is the leader and has responsibilities to the party. He had to make decisions as to what is in the best interests of the party. But I have to make decisions based on what I believe I can offer the party.

"I have to be honest — all my colleagues would accept that, across my political life, I have never taken anything personally. 

We had very hard debates with Fine Gael and other political parties but I always kept it professional. I never liked delving into the personal.

"I tried not to take umbrage if something was said to me. I like to keep it professional and, in that context, I accept that Micheál has to make a decision and, in his own mind, he believes that Jim Gavin is a [good] candidate. But I believe I have a lot to offer and I will offer an alternative candidate to Jim."

Mr Kelleher, speaking in an interview with 96FM's The Opinion Line producer, Paul Byrne, said he was “looking forward” to speaking to his party colleagues about his candidacy.

He said his decision to put his name forward arose after he called for clarity on the selection process during the summer.

“Some parliamentary party colleagues — mostly TDs — contacted me last June and mentioned: would I be interested due to the fact other political parties were talking about MEPs contesting the presidency?

"I did not give it a lot of thought at the time. I just took soundings. Then we were led to believe there would be a process for the party to select candidates. Then we were into August and you were wondering what was happening?

"A lot of people in the parliamentary party started to contact me. They were asking whether I was putting my name forward. I gave it serious thought and some colleagues spoke to me in depth. Then I ultimately said I would and I announced my candidacy on Friday last."

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Mr Kelleher said he spoke to the Taoiseach about whether he was interested in the position, and when it was established that he was not, he decided to put his name forward.

The Fianna Fáil leader had been suggested as a contender in the race for the Áras, but he emphatically ruled himself out of running in July. 

Mr Kelleher said he intends to “travel the country” over the next couple of days to speak to elected representatives of his party. He said "it is the parliamentary party that will make the decision" about the party candidate.

"You put your best foot forward, you stand up for what you believe — I believe there should be a contest within the party, and I think we should have a choice in terms of a discussion over who the candidate should be," he said.

"I look forward to a robust debate over the next couple of weeks and I look forward to meeting my colleagues about this. Whoever the candidate will be will have the full support of the parliamentary party."

Mr Kelleher added that he was a member of the Fianna Fáil party to his “fingertips” and would not consider running as an independent candidate in the event of him failing to receive the party nomination.

Earlier on Monday, justice minister Jim O’Callaghan endorsed Mr Gavin to be Fianna Fáil's candidate. He said he spoke to both Mr Gavin and Mr Kelleher saying "both would be excellent in the office of Uachtarán na hÉireann".

Mr O’Callaghan’s decision to back Mr Gavin means all of Fianna Fáil’s senior Cabinet ministers have come out for the former Dublin GAA manager.