'My name will not go forward': Mary Lou McDonald rules herself out of Áras race

Mary Lou McDonald said she is needed to hold the Government to account

Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald. Picture: Gareth Chaney

Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald has ruled herself out of running in October’s presidential election.

Ms McDonald said she had considered her position and whether or not to run, but believed she was needed to hold the Government to account. She said she would work within Sinn Féin and with other opposition parties to build a “real alternative” ahead of the next general election

“For those reasons, I’ve informed some of my colleagues over the weekend, and I’ll be talking to others in Dun Laoghaire today, and my name will not go forward for that reason,” Ms McDonald told RTÉ's Morning Ireland.

“Obviously, the office of Uachtarán na hÉireann is an incredibly important one. It’s important we get the right person into that office, but it is so important that we have a government that can really respond to the day-to-day needs of our people.” 

Questioned over why she initially changed her mind about the election over the summer, Ms McDonald said she believed it was "worth putting all the options on the table".

Asked if Northern Ireland first minister and Sinn Féin vice president Michelle O’Neill would be the candidate, Ms McDonald did not directly respond. However, she said the party had options if it wanted to field a candidate.

The party hierarchy is set to formally decide later in September whether to stand a candidate or back a left-wing non-party contender, such as already confirmed independent candidate Catherine Connolly.

Ms McDonald said the Sinn Féin Ard Comhairle would seek to meet with Ms Connolly and her campaign team.

She praised the Galway West TD for her commitment to social justice, while saying Ms Connolly was a “very independent-minded person”.

“My choice and my preference as Uachtarán Sinn Féin is that we finish out our process [of selecting a candidate],” Ms McDonald said

On a visit to Belfast last month, Ms Connolly said she would use her voice “in every way possible” to attempt to secure Irish unity in her term should she succeed in her bid to become president.

Ms McDonald said Sinn Féin engaged with people from outside the party as a possible candidate for the party. However, she declined to set out if the party had engaged with GAA president Jarlath Burns about a run for the Áras.

Asked if Sinn Féin councillors would be instructed to block independent candidates from getting on the ballot paper, Ms McDonald said they will make their own “democratic decision”.

“I have not heard or seen anybody come forward thus far making a compelling case as to why they should be on the ballot to be Uachtarán.

“Our councillors are sensible, they’ll go, they'll listen, and they’ll make their democratic decision. Obviously, their first focus is our own internal process.”

Polling day has been confirmed as Friday, October 24, and nominations for candidates will close a month before that.