Breaking Seán Kelly to seek Fine Gael nomination for presidency
Mr Kelly said he believed the "time is right" to put himself forward, in light of the changed circumstances following Mairead McGuinness' decision to withdraw from the race, and after discussing it with family and supporters.
Ms McGuinness said last week that she was stepping aside due to health concerns.
Mr Kelly announced his decision to seek the party's nomination on RTÉ's Morning Ireland programme.
"As someone who has devoted my life to serving communities across Ireland, as a teacher, as president of the GAA, and for the past 16 years as MEP for Ireland South, I am confident that I can represent the country with integrity, inclusiveness, and a commitment to our communities.
"To be entrusted with that honour would be the greatest privilege of my life," Mr Kelly said in a statement.
Mr Kelly said he looks forward to the nomination process and any contest that might follow.
Nominations for the party's presidential candidate reopen at midday today and will close at midday on 2 September.
The decision came following a meeting of the Fine Gael Executive Council last night.
Tánaiste Simon Harris said the decision to reopen nominations will enable the party to have a candidate in place by mid-September.
Heather Humphreys is believed to be reconsidering a presidential bid after having ruled herself out of contention earlier this year.
Several TDs have expressed support for a potential run by Ms Humphreys.
Former Fine Gael MEP Frances Fitzgerald said Ms Humphreys would have her "full support" if she were to run for Áras an Uachtaráin.
In May, Ms Humphreys said while she had given it serious consideration, she wished to spend more time with family and friends and pursue other things.
MEP calls for FF to convene meeting over presidential candidate
Meanwhile, Fianna Fáil MEP Billy Kelleher has called for a meeting of the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party to be convened "urgently" to discuss running a candidate in the Presidential Election.
Mr Kelleher said Fianna Fáil should either run its own candidate or support a candidate that represents the party's values.
"In my opinion, Fianna Fáil, 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," Mr Kelleher said.
He said a meeting should be convened soon as the next scheduled meeting in September would come "too late in the day".
He added that he has asked the chairperson of the parliamentary party, TD Brendan Smith, to convene the meeting to discuss "this most critical of issues".
Taoiseach Micheál Martin said on Sunday that his party would make its position on a candidate clear towards the end of the month, adding that Fianna Fáil would be making a "contribution" to the election.
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