‘I would love to do it’: Kelly seeking Fine Gael nomination for president

Fine Gael MEP Sean Kelly said he will “certainly” seek his party’s nomination to run for president.

Mr Kelly had previously ruled out seeking a nomination when Fine Gael first sought a candidate, but said on Tuesday that circumstances have changed after the party’s initial hopeful, Mairead McGuinness, withdrew, citing health concerns.

Speaking on RTE’s Morning Ireland, he said he was now “enthusiastic” about the prospect of running for president.

Fine Gael has reopened a process to find its nominee for Aras an Uachtarain following Ms McGuinness’s departure from the race.

Momentum has also been behind former Fine Gael deputy leader Heather Humphreys to become the party’s candidate.

The nomination window closes at noon on Tuesday, September 2.

Mr Kelly said: “I’ll certainly seek the Fine Gael nomination. Unfortunately, Mairead McGuinness had to withdraw, and there’s a process now over which we can seek nominations over the next five days.

“So I would be looking for the nomination and after that, and if I’m nominated, I would be greatly honoured to represent the party and stand for election for president.”

Asked why he had changed his mind about the race, he added: “Obviously, circumstances changed with Mairead having to withdraw, and that changed the position – we needed a new candidate.”

Mr Kelly said he had previously underestimated the “grassroots” support he had in Ireland.

Asked about previous comments where he described the presidential role as “largely ceremonial” and stated that his preference was to be involved “politically”, Mr Kelly said: “That was in comparison to presidents, maybe around the world, who have executive powers – but I think actually there’s a huge potential in the job, it is the highest honour in Ireland.”

He added: “I would love to do it.”

Further pressed on previously quoting writer John B Keane that a day out in Kerry – by living in Aras an Uachtarain in Dublin – would be “a day wasted”, Mr Kelly said it was a “tongue in cheek” remark.

Elsewhere in the race, independent TD Catherine Connolly has secured the backing of Labour, the Social Democrats, People Before Profit and a range of other independents.

Fianna Fail and Sinn Fein have yet to decide if they will field a candidate.

Fianna Fail MEP Billy Kelleher has said that a meeting of the parliamentary party should be convened urgently to discuss running a candidate.

He said: “Fianna Fail, the largest party in the Dáil, the Seanad and in local government, should be actively involved in either running its own candidate or facilitating a candidate that represents our values and beliefs as a political movement.”

Nutriband entrepreneur Gareth Sheridan, mixed martial arts fighter Conor McGregor, and Riverdance star Michael Flatley are among other hopefuls seeking a nomination.

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

To be eligible to run, a candidate must be an Irish citizen who is 35 or older.

They must be nominated either by at least 20 members of the Oireachtas or by at least four local authorities.

Former or retiring presidents can nominate themselves.