LAST UPDATE | 12 hrs ago

TAOISEACH MICHEÁL MARTIN has said Fianna Fáil’s preference for the presidential election “is not so much the party, it’s the office should be filled by a person who will carry it off with distinction”. 

Speaking with The Journal in Osaka, ahead of his visit to Expo 2025, the Taoiseach said the party is still “taking soundings” as to who it could run as a candidate. 

However, he said the office goes beyond party politics, stating: 

“We are examining it. I’m talking to people in the parliamentary party, I’m talking to councillors. I’m listening to people on the ground. I would make the general point that you need somebody who can command a broad base of support amongst the electorate, that has authority.

“It’s a very important office, the highest office in the land. And it’s not for the faint hearted. So the person would have to command a broad range of support. And we, our preference, is not so much the party, it’s the office should be filled by a person who will carry it off with distinction, represent the country well abroad and lead with some sort of moral authority.”

Former Fianna Fáil minister Mary Hanafin said this week that she was seeking the party’s nomination. Meanwhile, MEP and former RTÉ presenter, Cynthia Ní Mhurchú, has dampened expectations she will announce her candidacy.

The Taoiseach said that in previous elections, such as when Michael D Higgins was first elected, viable candidates fell away after a brutal campaign. 

“What was interesting is there was a lot of early candidates in the race, and some of them were going very well, but by the time summer was over, they been torpedoed,” he said.

Is Fianna Fáil nervous about running a candidate? 

As a result, asked if it makes him nervous running a Fianna Fáil candidate, he said:

“It is a factor that has to be taken into account.”

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Martin went on to state that while a lot of names are out in the ether right now, he believes there are people interested in the job who have not yet come forward. 

“I think there are still a number of people out there who will make very fine presidents, who perhaps have not surfaced yet and who haven’t even been spoken about yet. But I think because of recent experiences, in recent presidential elections, particularly the one I mentioned,  I do believe that that’s a factor in people not showing their hand too early,” Martin said.  

With reports that some parties were looking to approach former Liveline presented Joe Duffy to ask him to run, when Martin was asked if Fianna Fáil would consider him a good candidate for the party, the Taoiseach said:

“I’m not going to get into specific individuals, although I know Joe, going back to my student union days,” he said. While Martin has ruled out running himself, The Journal asked if he would be interested in the job one day. 

“Well, I think I’ve committed myself to this term in government and to this Dáil and beyond. But I haven’t looked at or considered the presidency. I’m very active. I enjoy the job I’m doing.”