Former Dublin football manager Jim Gavin has gained early momentum in the race to be Fianna Fáil’s presidential nomineeas it became clear yesterday that he enjoys the backing of Taoiseach and party leader Micheál Martin.
Two Cabinet ministers, James Lawless and deputy leader Jack Chambers, declared their support for Mr Gavin – a move taken by many as a signal that the party leadership will now back Mr Gavin’s candidacy.
Clare TD Cathal Crowe and Dublin Mid West TD Shane Moynihan also said they would support Mr Gavin.
As he has done all week, Mr Gavin remained silent, declining to respond to messages. However, it is expected in Fianna Fáil that he will confirm his candidacy in the coming days.
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Mr Martin and Mr Chambers have been canvassing support in the parliamentary party for Mr Gavin in recent days.
MEP Billy Kelleher has also confirmed his surprise candidacy, telling RTÉ this week: “I’ve three children. I love this country. I’ve served this in public life all my life.”
Later, at a party event in Dublin, Mr Kelleher said that he started to think about running when “various TDs approached me” about the possibility.
“Once I started to speak to parliamentary party members, a lot of them came forward and asked me to put my name forward as a candidate for the party,” he said.
He said there was “surprise” from the party leadership when he informed them of his intention to seek the nomination.
Speaking at the same event, former taoiseach Bertie Ahern was fiercely critical of the party leadership, which he suggested had refused to give him an answer about his candidacy for several months. He said he only found out that the party leadership was not supportive when he read The Irish Times on Tuesday.
Senior Fianna Fáil sources disputed aspects of Mr Ahern’s account of contacts between him and the party.
Mr Ahern insisted he was not ruling himself out of seeking the party’s nomination. “I think you know my position. I never ruled myself out. So that means if you don’t rule yourself out, you’re in,” he said.
However, his chances of being successful were dismissed by party sources.
It is expected that Mr Martin will set out the process for choosing the party’s candidate later today, with a meeting of the parliamentary party likely next week, though no meeting has yet been called.
Meanwhile, conservative campaigner Maria Steen has confirmed her interest in running for president and will be having “conversations” with politicians, in the Oireachtas and at local council level, over the next two weeks.
Ms Steen was part of the successful campaign against the failed family and care referendums in 2024. She is a member of the Iona Institute and opposed the abortion and same-sex marriage referendums.
She has also been critical of divorce and assisted dying. Ms Steen is a qualified barrister but works within the home as a stay-at-home mother and homeschooler.
