MEP McGuinness Wants To Run For President

MEP Mairead McGuinness, a former TV presenter and newspaper journalist, says she would like to be Fine Gael's nominee in this year's presidential election.

Ms McGuinness has been a member of the European Parliament for Fine Gael since 2004, when Enda Kenny's team hand-picked her as a celebrity candidate.

She has twice topped the poll in the East constituency in European elections.

She told an audience at the opening of an arts exhibition in County Kildare last Friday that she had been regularly asked by people she met if she was going to join the race for the Aras.

"I am honored and humbled that people would even ask me that question," she said, "Having thought long and hard about it, tonight I want to tell you that I have decided to seek the nomination of the FG party to run for the presidency.

"I firmly believe the seeds of hope for our country will be found in our power to create and in the infinite ability of our collective imagination. It is in our creativity that we will find the capacity to bring about a new vision for the country."

The 51-year-old from Co Louth is now the frontrunner to get her party's nod, with fellow MEP Sean Kelly thought likely to be the only one who might challenge her.

Former Taoiseach John Bruton and former European Parliament president Pat Cox have both been mentioned as possible FG candidates but are not thought likely at this stage to seek the nomination.

So far only three other people have declared their intention to run.

Independent Senator David Norris launched his campaign in March.

He needs the support of four local county councils or 20 TDs to even get his name on the ballot paper.

But despite this, he remains the bookies' favorite to win if he can get nominated.

Two members of the Labour Party have indicated their desire to run for Aras an Uachtarain - former Arts Minister Michael D Higgins and head of children's charity Barnados and adviser to Dick Spring, Fergus Finlay.

Neither Fianna Fail nor Sinn Fein have yet indicated if they will be putting forward a candidate.

And "gombeen" TD Jackie Healy-Rae is said to be considering a run, although he would have little chance of winning.

President Mary McAleese steps down in November after 14 years (two terms) in the job.