Latest news with #MaryHanafin
Irish Times
4 days ago
- Politics
- Irish Times
Fianna Fáil decision on presidential candidate a long time coming
So what's going on in Fianna Fáil when it comes to the presidency? Is the party going to have a candidate, or not? When will it decide? And who might it be? Taoiseach and party leader Micheál Martin has been studiously ambiguous for months on the subject. The only thing he has been clear about – as he confirmed again this week – is that he will not be a candidate. Other than that, there's been a lot more questions than answers. Meanwhile, there has been an avalanche of speculation about potential candidates. It started with former taoiseach Bertie Ahern . The former minister Mary Hanafin is openly seeking the nomination, while Donegal TD Pat the Cope Gallagher has also been mentioned, as has – just this week – Eamon Ó Cuiv, the former minister and grandson of the party's founder (and former president) Éamon de Valera. None have received much enthusiasm from either the party's TDs or the wider organisation. Will Fianna Fáil and Sinn Féin abstain from the presidential race? Listen | 40:42 Elsewhere, the name of the Northern academic Prof Deirdre Heenan has been floated – reported this week as a 'front-runner' – as has the former leader of the SDLP, Colum Eastwood. More exotically, the former Ireland footballers Niall Quinn and Packie Bonner have been mentioned. Joe Duffy has ruled himself out. Michael Flatley has very much not – his lawyer told the judge in a long-running court case involving the former dancer that he intends to make a bid for the presidency. READ MORE Pick your own name and throw it into the mix; sure, everyone else is doing it. The lack of any direction from the party leadership has led to a sort of open season for anyone to propose themselves or someone else. Some of these are credible possibilities; many are not. So what's happening? After several in-depth conversations with a series of senior party figures, all conducted on the condition that they would remain anonymous, it's possible to say three things with confidence about Fianna Fáil and the presidency. Fianna Fáil will probably – but not certainly – run a candidate The idea that the party has to run a candidate, especially if Sinn Féin runs its candidate, is one that is forcefully rejected by all sources. Fianna Fáil will make its own decision on its candidate, without reference to the existing or likely field. The question will be whether it has a viable contender that it can get behind, not a certain winner but a real contender, not what other parties are doing. The example of Gay Mitchell, who, despite being the representative of a then-dominant Fine Gael, bombed in the 2011 election, is much cited. Sources agree that the party would like to run a candidate, but would prefer not to run a candidate than run a poor candidate. The decision will not be finally made until September and the principal decision-maker will be Martin The Taoiseach has said he will consult the parliamentary party, but nobody is under any illusion about who gets the final say. His dominance of the party is such that any decision he makes – including not to run a candidate, a possibility which sources say he is quite comfortable with – will be accepted, even though some grumbling is inevitable, whatever happens. He may well spend time during August pondering the question, but not all of it. The eventual candidate, if there is one, is very unlikely to be any of the names floated so far Despite the claims made for some of the potential candidates, sources say with certainty that none of them has captured Martin's imagination. And several of them are not taken seriously at all. Martin retains, it is said, an open mind but it is felt unlikely that a current or even retired politician will be selected. The 'help wanted' sign is still on his door.
Irish Times
23-07-2025
- Politics
- Irish Times
Micheál Martin ‘definietly not' running for presidency, he says
Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said he is 'definitely not' going to run as a candidate for presidency. Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland, Mr Martin said Fianna Fáil will consider a candidate in the coming weeks after taking 'soundings' from people within the parliamentary party. When asked if he had spoken with Deirdre Heenan, a Derry-based Ulster University professor who has been mentioned in some circles to be the party's candidate, Mr Martin said he had not. 'A lot of names have been floated in association with Fianna Fáil. I'm not responsible for the flotation of any of those names, just to make that very clear. I was elected, you know, I went to the people to say I wanted to serve Cork South Central and I wanted to lead Fianna Fáil into government. 'I made that obligation to the public and that's the context. No disrespect to the presidency or anything, but I gave commitments to the people that I would serve in Dáil Éireann for the next five years and that is what I'm going to do.' At the weekend former Fianna Fáil minister Mary Hanafin, who has expressed an interest in running herself, said it would be 'an insult' to the office of the presidency if her party does not run a candidate . The first declared candidates – former European Commissioner and Fine Gael MEP Mairead McGuinness and Independent TD Catherine Connolly – emerged last week in the battle to succeed President Michael D Higgins. Independent Ireland is open to talking to former chief medical officer (CMO) Tony Holohan and Irish dancing star Michael Flatley , should they seek nominations from Oireachtas members to enter the race, party leader Michael Collins has said.
The Journal
20-07-2025
- Business
- The Journal
Government plans to inject up to €30bn extra into Ireland's infrastructure
THE GOVERNMENT IS finalising plans to inject up to an additional €30bn into Ireland's infrastructure between 2026 and 2030. Fianna Fáil Minister for Public Expenditure, appearing on RTÉ's This Week radio programme today, said that the plan is to be published on Tuesday, and that the coalition party leader met last night. 'This really gives an opportunity for transformational investment within the Irish economy. 'Over the next five to 10 years we'll be providing up to €30bn in additional capital expenditure… that's for the National Development Plan, the roads, the schools, the health infrastructure, and the homes that are critical to ensuring Ireland's prosperity and growth over the medium term,' Chambers said. He said that the plan will also present a long term commitment to €200bn in capital investment, which he said will help to 'bridge the infrastructure deficit' we have in the country. Advertisement He was questioned on where an additional €10bn has come from, as before today it was expected that the figure would be an additional €20bn, rather than the thirty that has been announced. Chambers said that of the additional €30bn, ten is being set aside for 'specific strategic investment', and that the money will be 'ring fenced for our grid, our water infrastructure and also the necessity to provide that medium to long term funding for the metro project, as an example.' He said that while the Government was making these plans it didn't want to see the likes of public transport and road infrastructure competing for funding. Chambers said that the purpose of the plan being announced this week is to provide 'funding certainty' which has been an issue 'in the last number of years'. Chambers said that the Government is not planning to publish its new housing plan until Autumn time, as part of the National Development plan. Responding to Mary Hanafin's comments about how it would be a 'disgrace' if Fianna Fáil didn't run an election candidate in the presidential race, Chambers said that the party is engaging on the matter 'internally' and that it will set out its position 'in the early autumn'. He also said that he is not aware of any engagements between Fianna Fáil and the former Chief Medical Officer of Ireland Tony Holohan on a potential presidential bid. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
The Journal
06-07-2025
- Politics
- The Journal
Fine Gael to open nominations for its presidential candidate tomorrow
FINE GAEL IS to open its nomination process for anyone seeking the party's candidacy for the upcoming presidential election tomorrow. The nominations will close at 4pm on the following Tuesday, 15 July, a statement from the party said. To be nominated, a candidate needs the nomination of 20 members of the Parliamentary Party, 25 Fine Gael Councillors and five members of the Executive Council, it said. Advertisement If a public representative is also a member of the Executive Council, they must indicate in which capacity they are nominating. In the event of a contest where more than one person is successful in being nominated for the candidacy, an electoral college voting system applies. Under the voting system, every member of the party in compliance with the two-year rule has a vote. The membership element of the college is worth 30% of the overall vote, councillors' votes are worth 15%, and the parliamentary party accounts for 55%. There will be a number of hustings held in late July and a postal ballot of members will take place across August. The parliamentary party will vote in September, as will councillors. The selected candidate will be ratified at an event in September. President Michael D Higgins's term will conclude on 11 November. Related Reads Two more names surface for presidency bids as Mary Hanafin confirms intent to run Why are so few candidates dipping their toe in the water in the race for the Áras? The election of the next President must take place within the sixty days before that, leaving the election open to be held from any stage from 13 September to 10 November. It is understood that at present, former European Commissioner Mairead McGuinness is the frontrunner for the party's nomination for the presidency, although MEP Seán Kelly has also declared his interest in contesting. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
BreakingNews.ie
05-07-2025
- Politics
- BreakingNews.ie
Poll: Who would you vote for in the presidential election?
Big names have been slow to emerge ahead of the election, but many are likely to set out their stall in the weeks to come given the election must take place by Tuesday, November 11th. Former minister Mary Hanafin is to seek the Fianna Fáil nomination to contest the presidential election. The Tipperary native and former Dún Laoighaire TD has told the Irish Independent she is "in the mix". Advertisement Ms Hanafin said: "'If I could contest it, I would happily do that. It's a role I would hope people could feel I would do well, both nationally and internationally." Fianna Fáil hasn't put forward a candidate for the election since 1997. The party decided to sit out the 2011 presidential election after a disastrous showing at the general election earlier that year, while in 2018 Fianna Fáil opted not to challenge President Michael D Higgins. Ms Hanafin, 66, feels sitting out the 2025 presidential election is not an option. Advertisement 'I think it would be an insult to the office of president if the largest political party doesn't contest it. It's a really important constitutional role,' she said. 'I think the nomination should be decided earlier rather than later. I know it can make it a very long campaign, but for a candidate to campaign well I think you could go around the country and actually talk to people." Ms Hanafin has had a number of disputes with Taoiseach Micheál Martin in the past. In 2011, she lost out to Mr Martin in the Fianna Fáil leadership contest, and in 2014 she ignored his request not to stand in the local elections in Blackrock. However, she said they are now on good terms. Advertisement Ms Hanafin served as education minister, arts minister and social protection minister during her time in government. She is the first big name in Fianna Fáil to make her intention to seek the nomination clear. Former taoiseach Bertie Ahern, former minister Éamon Ó Cuív and MEP Cynthia Ní Mhurchú have all been linked with a bid. Big names have been slow to emerge ahead of the election, but many are likely to set out their stall in the weeks to come given the election must take place by Tuesday, November 11th. MEP Seán Kelly and former MEP Mairead McGuinness are likely to compete for the Fine Gael nomination. Advertisement Speaking to reporters in Brussels, Mr Kelly said he is considering running but has not yet made up his mind. He also said an internal contest for the Fine Gael nomination would be a positive. "Democracies thrive on elections, without elections, you can't have democracies. The members like to be able to exercise their franchise," he said. It was recently revealed that Ms McGuinness claimed €800,000 in MEP expenses for office rent and other costs when using family property in Co Meath as her constituency office. Advertisement This is within EU Parliament rules. However, The Irish Times reports some Fine Gael sources feel it is a "point of discomfort" in the presidential campaign because of the prospect of questions being raised on the matter. Sinn Féin has not selected a candidate yet, but Northern Ireland First Minister Michelle O'Neill has not ruled out a bid. At a press conference in Co Armagh, Ms O'Neill was asked about the possibility of her running in the election. She replied: "I think I've plenty to do, being First Minister. But I would think the fact remains that I could stand for election, I could be elected as Uachtarán na hÉireann, but I can't vote in that election, so that's where there's a deficit and what we need to see is presidential voting rights extended to the North so the Irish citizens in the North can vote.' Former SDLP leader Colum Eastwood was also linked with a presidential bid. He told the BBC that people had asked him to consider a presidential bid. 'I'm going to take the time to think about it." In terms of so-called celebrity candidates, recently retired radio presenter Joe Duffy and broadcaster Miriam O'Callaghan have been linked with a presidential bid. Duffy has not ruled it out, while O'Callagahan has been consistently linked with a bid over the years. Less likely is Conor McGregor, who has made his desire to run no secret, however, he would likely find it difficult to be nominated by at least 20 members of the Oireachtas or the backing of at least four local authorities — city or county councils. Take our poll below to choose who you would like to vote for in November.
