Speculation around Fianna Fáil’s choice of presidential nominee has intensified, with one TD telling Gript they are “hoping that Eamon Ó Cúiv will contest the position” amid media reports linking Bertie Ahern to the race.
The next presidential election is due in the autumn, and party leader Micheál Martin is expected to decide in the coming weeks whether Fianna Fáil will field its own candidate. As reported by the Irish Independent this week, some TDs and Senators have suggested they would back Ahern, though his candidacy would be divisive within the party.
In a phone interview with Gript, one Fianna Fáil TD said they had heard “nothing about Bertie Ahern” being discussed internally.
“Nobody discussed that with me at all,” they said.
“One of the disappointing things about this whole process has been that there hasn’t been clarity about how it’s going to work.”
They added that Ó Cúiv would be their preference if he decided to stand.
“I’m hoping that Eamon Ó Cúiv will contest the position,” they continued.
“Hopefully we’re getting now to a position where a decision will be made.”
Another Fianna Fáil TD insisted that no names had been formally raised at all.
“I’m not aware of it,” they said.
“There’s been no discussion of names to my knowledge. Micheál Martin has said he will be deciding at the end of this month or early September.”
They said the process had left members uncertain.
“Quite honestly, you know as much as I do,” they remarked.
“There’s been no discussions whatsoever in relation to this. We’ve been told nothing.”
One Fianna Fáil Senator described the atmosphere as dominated by gossip.
“The rumour mill is in overdrive at this stage,” they said. “We’re told at the end of the month An Taoiseach is discussing it, and then we’ll decide if we’re putting a candidate forward.”
They added that they would wait before naming a preference.
“At the minute there’s all sorts of names being put into the hat, but it’s all just rumours and speculation,” they continued.
“We’re just going to have to wait for another week or two and see what comes out.”
Another Senator said they expected clarity from headquarters shortly.
“There’s been no discussion that I’m aware of,” they said.
“It’s probably fair to say people will be anxious to see what the plan is and see what names could potentially be in the mix. But that hasn’t happened yet.”
They said they wanted to see the full field before taking a stance. “Just what’s circulating in the media – that’s it. Nothing else. There’s been no big discussions,” they explained.
“We’re expecting hopefully in the next 10 days or so to get a bit of a briefing on where exactly we’re at.”
The Irish Independent also reported that businessman Pádraig Ó Céidigh and European Court of Human Rights president Síofra O’Leary have been mentioned as possible names.
Ahern, who served as Taoiseach from 1997 to 2008, has not ruled himself out of the race. The Mahon Tribunal made no findings of corruption against him, but said that he failed to truthfully account for a number of financial transactions, which would no doubt come up in any electoral race relating to the former Fianna Fáil leader.