Kelleher welcomes ‘healthy’ competition for presidential nomination

By Cillian Sherlock and Gráinne Ní Aodha, PA

It is “healthy” for Fianna Fáil to have a contest for its presidential nomination, party MEP and hopeful Billy Kelleher has said.

Mr Kelleher made the comment after formally declaring his intention to seek backing, and after one of his party colleagues endorsed former Dublin GAA manager Jim Gavin for the nomination.

Meanwhile, former taoiseach Bertie Ahern said he was not ruling himself out of the race as he expressed disappointment that his party’s leadership had failed to express support for him.

Mr Ahern and Mr Kelleher were among party stalwarts who attended a special mass at Glasnevin Cemetery on Friday, marking the 50th anniversary of the death of Eamon de Valera.

Mr Kelleher told reporters that it is a “good thing” for other people to put their name forward as a candidate for Fianna Fáil’s nomination.

It came after his party colleague and Further Education Minister James Lawless endorsed Mr Gavin.

Mr Kelleher said: “I don’t know Jim well, but I know his record in terms of the GAA and what he’s achieved in that.”

He added: “The name Jim Gavin is synonymous with success, but from my perspective, you know, I feel I have a lot to offer as well.”

Mr Kelleher said he welcomed discussion on who the candidate should be, but added: “In that choice, there’s debate around the type of candidate.

“Do they carry the values of our party? Are they pro-European? Are they pro-enterprise? These are the key issues.”

At the same event, Mr Ahern revealed that he had repeatedly sought an answer from the Fianna Fáil leadership about whether they would support him.

Mr Ahern said: “I never rule myself out. If you never rule yourself out, you’re still in.”

He said he had been seeking an answer from party electoral officials since December 16.

He said he did not get an answer and found it “very disappointing” to see recent reports that the leadership would not support him.

Asked if this meant he was prepared to seek a nomination against the wishes of leadership, he repeated that he had not ruled himself out.

Earlier, Mr Kelleher said he had first been approached by Fianna Fail figures in April and May about running, but there was no formal process in place at the time.

He said that once he publicly called for a process to allow people to put their names forward, in August, he was approached again by party members.

“I spoke with Micheal Martin, the leader of the party, last night, and I informed him that I will be putting my name forward,” he told RTE’s News at One programme.

Mr Kelleher, a former Cork North-Central TD and junior minister – who was a farmer before becoming a politician, said he would be a unifying force as president.

Asked if Mr Martin was happy that the MEP was looking to become a candidate, he said: “I honestly believe that nobody who leads a democratic party could be unhappy with having a robust, rigorous debate within the party to find a candidate to represent the party in a very important (election).”

Fianna Fail’s parliamentary party is expected to make a decision on the presidential election in the early autumn.

So far, left-wing independent Catherine Connolly is the only candidate who has secured the backing needed to get on the presidential ballot paper.

The Galway TD has the backing of Labour, the Social Democrats, People Before Profit-Solidarity and independents.

Sinn Fein has yet to announce whether it will support Ms Connolly or run its own candidate.

Heather Humphreys and Sean Kelly are in a race to secure the Fine Gael nomination, after the withdrawal of Mairead McGuinness in mid-August “on medical advice”.

A presidential election is expected towards the end of October, as it must take place in the 60 days before the second term of President Michael D Higgins ends on November 11.

To be eligible to run, a candidate must be nominated either by 20 members of the Oireachtas or four local authorities.

Although figures such as MMA fighter Conor McGregor and Riverdance star Michael Flatley have said they are looking to run as presidential candidates, they would need to gather this support to be on the ballot paper.