Taoiseach Michéal Martin has confirmed he is endorsing former Dublin football manager Jim Gavin to run as the Fianna Fáil candidate in the forthcoming presidential election. He says he believes Mr Gavin has all the qualities necessary for the position.
The news comes as Mr Gavin earlier today contacted members of the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party seeking their votes to become the party’s presidential nominee.
Mr Martin said he had met Mr Gavin in July after several people had suggested the chief operations officer of the Irish Aviation Authority to him as a candiate.
Speaking at the Daniel O’Connell Summer School in Co Kerry on Saturday afternoon, Mr Martin told reporters: “I think he’s an extraordinary, accomplished person. I think he has the right values, he has a life of service to the nation, a peacekeeper with United Nations, working in our Defence Forces, chaired pretty expertly the citizens’ assembly in terms of the government mayoral issue ...
RM Block
“What has struck me, is anybody I speak to, who have had an involvement with him, or who have worked with him, speak very highly about his integrity, his principles and his values.”
Mr Martin said he is “certainly supporting Jim Gavin and supporting in the context of a decision that the parliamentary party will take.”
Asked about Ireland South MEP Billy Kelleher’s decision to seek a nomination, Mr Martin said that he was surprised. He said just two weeks ago Mr Kelleher had been calling on him (Mr Martin) to let his name go forward for a Fianna Fáil nomination.
He said he had engaged with many people in the party over the past two months and while many had come up with some suggestions, Mr Kelleher’s name had not been mentioned and Mr Kelleher had not indicated at that stage that he was interested in running.
Mr Martin refused to be drawn on speculation regarding how much support Mr Kelleher might have for his bid.. However, he advised journalists to treat with great caution reports that Mr Kelleher has the support of 30 members of the parliamentary party.
Asked about the possibility of former taoiseach and Fianna Fáil leader Bertie Ahern seeking a nomination, Mr Martin again re-iterated his belief Mr Gavin was the best candidate.
“Jim Gavin has the capacity to reach out to a broad strata of Irish society, and he’s demonstrated a capacity to bring people together, to lead people,” he said.
Does Jim Gavin have what it takes for a presidential campaign?
In a letter to the TDs on Saturday, Mr Gavin said: “Over the last two months, members of the party and the parliamentary party have approached me to ask if I would be willing to put my name forward. I was very honoured to have been approached.
“Since then, I have engaged in thoughtful conversations with people both in the party and in the wider community. These discussions have reaffirmed my belief in the unique and vital role the presidency plays in our national life ...
“I believe that, in these turbulent times, Ireland needs a president who can bring people together and promote and represent our shared values and interests at home and abroad.
[ Jim Gavin profile: Is former Dublin GAA manager a good fit for president?Opens in new window ]
Mr Gavin set out his agenda for the presidency, saying it will be “an active and positive one based on reaching out to every community at home as well as promoting and representing Ireland’s values abroad, facilitating the use of the Áras for the people and promoting Ireland’s language, culture, education and enterprise to the wider world”.
Mr Gavin said he was “respectfully asking for your support at the parliamentary party and will contact, and hopefully meet you, over the coming days to discuss my potential candidacy”.
A number of Fianna Fáil TDs and Ministers have already declared their support for the Dubliner, including Minister for Public Expenditure Jack Chambers; Minister for Housing James Browne; Minister for Further and Higher Education James Lawless; and Dara Calleary Minister for Social Protection.
Mr Gavin (54) was raised in Clondalkin but his parents were from west Clare. He joined the Air Corps as a cadet officer and trained as a pilot, rising quickly through the ranks. He became chief flying instructor and chief of military aviation in the Air Corps. He also served in overseas military operations, most notably in Chad.
[ Pat Leahy: There are landmines on the path to the presidency for every partyOpens in new window ]
A trained commercial jet pilot, he has spent his post-Defence Forces career on the public service side, as a senior aviation regulator. He is currently chief operations officer of the Irish Aviation Authority where he has overall operational responsibility for air safety in Ireland. He is married and has two children.
Independent TD Catherine Connolly is still the only confirmed election candidate. Along with Mr Gavin and Mr Kelleher, a number of other people have annouced their desire to run for the Áras inculding conservative campaiger Maria Steen; businessmen Gareth Sheridan and Nick Delehanty while former taoiseach Bertie Ahern yesterday declined to rule himself out.
