Fine Gael's Mairead McGuinness pulls out of presidential race
In a statement, she described the decision as "very difficult" and that it was taken on medical advice.
Advertisement
The former EU Commissioner has led every opinion poll so far.
She added that her decision to pull out was not taken lightly, and was made following a stay in hospital last week.
"My priority now is my health. Given that the election is in a short couple of months, I do not believe that I have the strength to give the campaign my all," Ms McGuinness said.
"I am taking this decision on medical advice and while it is extremely difficult, it is the right decision for me and my family.
Advertisement
"I appreciate that this will come as a shock and disappointment to party members and colleagues in Fine Gael, but our political family is strong."
She said she has spoken to Tánaiste and Fine Gael leader, Simon Harris, and thanked him for "his support and understanding".
"My focus now is my health and my family, and I ask for privacy in the time ahead," Ms McGuinness's statement finished.
In a statement released following Ms McGuinness's announcement, Mr Haris said that she "has made an incredible contribution to public life in Ireland and in Europe.
Advertisement
"It was our clear view in Fine Gael and the view of many people across Ireland that Mairead would make an excellent President of Ireland," the Tánaiste's statement said, before adding that her "health will now not allow this".
"This has come as an awful shock to us all. Mairead is a valued member of our Fine Gael family. It is absolutely essential that she now prioritises her health and I know I speak for everyone when I wish her all the very best on that journey."
In the coming days Fine Gael is to "consider further" the presidential election, convening their Executive Council to do so, Mr Harris said.
"But that's for the time ahead, not for today. Today I want to pay tribute to Mairead. I want to thank her for all she has done. I want to wish her and Tom and their family all the best at this time and she knows we are all sending her our very best."
Advertisement
Mr Harris had previously said that Ms McGuinness, who was a former TV presenter and farming journalist before becoming an MEP and EU commissioner, 'possesses all the attributes to bring our nation together'.
Ms McGuinness was the first official nominee in the presidential race to replace Michael D Higgins this autumn, after he served the maximum, two seven-year terms as President of Ireland.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Metro
8 minutes ago
- Metro
Why Egypt won't take Gazans, Ukraine's future and American irony
Do you agree with our readers? Have your say on these MetroTalk topics and more in the comments. Malcolm (MetroTalk, Thu) asks why Egypt isn't taking in refugees from Gaza. The reason is Israel has historically refused and is currently refusing the rights of Palestinians to return to land that Israel controls or occupies, so Egypt doesn't want to assist in permanently displacing a population. Israel is also a neighbour of Palestine but has not processed or taken any refugees, despite having two crossings compared with Egypt's one. I'm sure a well-funded state such as Israel has the capacity to sift out terrorists. It seems to know who they are when it uses 'targeted attacks' on Gaza. Malcolm says Israel is 'as responsible for the deaths in this war as the Allies were in killing the millions of innocent civilians in Germany and Japan in World War II'. International law is clear on the matter of civiliacns being killed in war and had those laws – and a willingness to enforce them – existed at the time, the Allies would have been in breach. Crimes in the past do not excuse crimes in the present. Paul Smith, Bristol Malcolm wonders why Egypt won't fling open the Rafah gate and whisk 2.3million Gazans into Sinai, as though refugee policy were a drive-thru. Egypt manages one crossing while Israel controls airspace, sea and every other exit. When Israel bombs the Rafah gate and then occupies it, Egypt can hardly run an open-door policy. Egypt remembers 1948, when Palestinians fled and were never allowed home. Opening Sinai now would help turn temporary 'shelter' into permanent expulsion. When your neighbour's house is on fire because someone else set it alight and blocks the exits, you don't blame the neighbour for not jumping through your kitchen window. Israel imposed the siege, launched the air strikes and controls the crossings – that's where accountability lies. Az Moss, London It's not only deeply troubling but simply exasperating to see zealots congratulating themselves for being arrested for showing support to Palestine Action, a proscribed terrorist organisation (MetroTalk, Wed). How does supporting the perpetrators or terror and blind hatred do anything for the people of Gaza? And their calls of Israeli 'genocide' are similarly misguided and an affront to the millions around the world currently suffering genocide – such as those in Sudan and Yemen. Sara, London How do we bring peace to Ukraine and Russia? We need Ukraine restored to its 2014 borders in return for giving up attempts to join Nato and the EU. We also need Nato to pull back from eastern Europe and the establishment of demilitarised zones on Russia's side of Nato's border as well as on both sides of the Ukrainian-Russian border. The only obstacle to this is Nato and the EU, especially the latter as it wants to absorb Ukraine to exploit its markets. Since the Soviet Union's collapse, the Warsaw Pact buffer zone has been gobbled up by Nato and the EU. Alan Meadowcroft, Oldham It is farcical the US is trying to accuse other countries of going backwards in terms of human rights and free speech. More Trending This is from the government that set up Ice, whose officers hide their faces when they arrest people for deportation, despite many being US citizens. A government that has been voting to take more rights away from its people. And a government that threatens to sue people because they dare to report on the president's sordid history and refuses to let certain circles of the free press attend White House briefings because it can't handle answering questions that don't blindly praise everything it says or does. The UK is not perfect but it's laughable for a country determined to take so many rights and freedoms away from its people to be so desperate to divert attention from itself that it attacks how other countries handle this. Matthew, Birmingham MORE: The Metro daily cartoon by Guy Venables MORE: Cost of Mounjaro weight-loss drug to go up by 170% in the UK within weeks MORE: A-level results day 2025 map shows how well your area did
The Independent
8 minutes ago
- The Independent
Large drop in number of pupils studying Welsh at A-level since 2005, data shows
There has been a dramatic drop in the number of pupils studying Welsh at A-level, with almost a third fewer taking the subject than two decades ago. More than 500 fewer students studied Welsh to a high level this year than in 2005, the latest data shows. The drop has come despite the Welsh Government having set a target of one million Welsh speakers by 2050. Around 538,000 people can speak the language in Wales. Data examined by the PA news agency shows some 372 students took Welsh as a first or second language at A-level this year, down from 927 in 2005. The lowest year on record was 2023, when just 353 pupils took the subject. This year has been the lowest year for people taking Welsh as a first language, with 185 entries, compared with 260 in 2020. Some 187 pupils took the subject as a second language, with 209 having taken it in 2020. Efa Gruffudd Jones, the Welsh Language Commissioner – an officer appointed by the Welsh Government to oversee an independent body aiming to promote the use of the Welsh language – described the drop as a 'matter of concern'. Speaking to PA, Ms Gruffudd Jones said she supported calls from the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol (Welsh National College) for Welsh to become a protected subject. She said: '(This would) make sure that every educational institution post-16 offers the course. 'What I hear from people who get in touch with my office, if only you know three or four people want to study it, then schools don't offer the subject at all. 'I believe they need 12 before they decide to run the course. I don't think that's right. 'I think it should be offered at every educational institution post-16.' Ms Gruffudd Jones also said the qualification itself is under review, and the content needs to be made more attractive and relevant to students. She added: 'The other thing is that you can study many more courses through the medium of Welsh now than you used to be able to. 'You can study psychology, criminology, etc, through the medium of Welsh. 'Maybe people in the past who would have wanted to study through the medium of Welsh chose Welsh, but now they have a wider range of choice.' The commissioner stressed that Welsh is not the only language to have seen a decline, with many European languages having seen a drop across the UK. Total entries for French, German, and Spanish were down by 20% from 443 to 352 in Wales this year, with Ruth Cocks, director of British Council Wales, describing the drop in interest in international languages as a 'concerning story'. Ms Gruffudd Jones said the reason for the move away from studying languages was unclear, but may be due to pupils being encouraged to study more Stem subjects. 'I understand that we need people with technical ability, but I would argue that you also need linguistic ability in order to communicate with people in workplaces, to articulate yourself well in future,' she said. 'I would argue that literature gives you some insight into the world. 'I don't think really that it should be either or. 'What's important is that it doesn't go any lower, and we continue to make efforts to attract people to learn Welsh to a high standard.' The Welsh Government's aim to have one million Welsh speakers by 2050 was first set out in 2017. Earlier this year, a new five-year plan was unveiled by the commissioner to help achieve the goal. And the Welsh Language and Education (Wales) Bill, which aims to close the gap in Welsh speaking ability among pupils from different schools, passed in the Senedd. Figures from the 2021 census showed a decline in the number of people who can speak Welsh compared with a decade earlier. Around 538,000 people in Wales – roughly 17% of the population – said they could speak Welsh, compared with 562,000 in 2011, around 19% of the population. Recent years have seen Welsh place names take prominence over English as the default, with Eryri replacing Snowdonia on official communications from the national park authority. In response to the decline in A-level entries, a Welsh Government spokesperson said: 'We would like more learners to take Welsh as a subject. 'A consultation is taking place to look at creating new Welsh AS and A-levels, making them engaging and attractive to learners. 'We see the Welsh Language and Education (Wales) Act 2025 as a means to provide more children and young people with access to the language within the education sector than ever before. 'We want all young people to leave school with better Welsh skills, regardless of whether they do A-level Welsh or not.'
BreakingNews.ie
8 minutes ago
- BreakingNews.ie
Justice Minister concerned over youth attacks on Indian community
A majority of recent attacks on the Indian community appear to have been carried out by young people, the Justice Minister has said. The Ireland India Council said there is an organised social media campaign against the Indian community in Ireland and the number of violent attacks has intensified since January. Advertisement In a statement on Thursday, Minister Jim O'Callaghan said he had met representatives of the council and the Federation of Indian Communities in Ireland. He said: 'Any attack against innocent members of the public such as those suffered by members of the Indian community are totally unacceptable and will not be tolerated. 'Attacks on individuals because of their inherent characteristics including race are abhorrent to the values of our republic and are condemned by any right-thinking people. 'What I find most concerning about these attacks is that the majority appear to have been carried out by young people. Advertisement 'I have been informed that Garda juvenile liaison officers are engaging with the respective communities and youth groups on the matter.' Mr O'Callaghan said he engaged extensively with the Garda commissioner on the matter and senior investigating officers had been assigned to investigate all reported incidents.
