8 hours ago
- Politics
- Irish Independent
Sinn Féin's Michelle O'Neill not ruling out run in presidential election
Asked if she was considering putting her name forward, Ms O'Neill said Sinn Féin was working its way through deliberations on selecting a candidate.
Speaking at a meeting of the North South Ministerial Council in Armagh, Ms O'Neill said she has plenty to do as First Minister, but did not rule herself out as a candidate.
The election for the next president is expected to take place in October.
When asked if she would put her name forward as a candidate, Ms O'Neill said: 'I am working our way through our deliberations as we speak.'
She also called for voting rights in presidential elections to be extended to Irish citizens living in Northern Ireland.
I could be elected Uachtarán, but I can't vote in that election
'Just to say, we obviously also haven't concluded our own deliberations in terms of the presidential race itself,' she said. 'I think I've plenty to do being as First Minister, but I think that the fact remains that I could stand for election, I could be elected 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 that Irish citizens in the North can vote for their Uachtarán.'
Taoiseach Micheál Martin said he was not aware of any engagement with former SDLP leader Colum Eastwood about becoming the Fianna Fáil candidate for the presidency.
It has been reported that Mr Eastwood is considering a bid for Áras an Uachtaráin.
Asked to confirm if Mr Eastwood had been approached by the party, Mr Martin challenged the basis for the question, adding: 'There's been no contact with me, there's been no engagement that I am aware of from the Fianna Fail party and it hasn't been on the agenda at all.'
Mr Martin said he was 'surprised' to hear Mr Eastwood was considering a run, but 'it's open to everybody to put themselves forward'.
