Fine Gael has appointed party chairman Charlie Flanagan as its director of elections for the upcoming presidential election campaign.
Mr Flanagan, a TD for Laois-Offaly, is to be supported in the role by four regional directors – Paschal Donohoe TD (Dublin), Jerry Buttimer TD (Munster), Joe O'Reilly TD (Connacht-Ulster) and Damien English TD (Leinster).
"We are going to campaign vigorously over the next few months and I am looking forward to engaging with the public and opening up a national debate around who our next president should be," Mr Flanagan said.
Fine Gael is yet to select a candidate to contest the election but a number of party members have declared an interest.
MEPs Gay Mitchell and Mairead McGuinness, former MEP and TD Avril Doyle and former European Parliament president Pat Cox, who just recently joined the party have all stated their intent to contest the election for Fine Gael.
Fine Gael is holding a party convention to select its candidate this Saturday.
Labour has selected Michael D Higgins to contest the election and Independent candidates Senator David Norris, entrepreneur Sean Gallagher and Special Olympics organiser Mary Davis are among those seeking a nomination.
"Charlie will be responsible for driving the strategy for the upcoming campaign and enlisting the Party's grassroots support," Fine Gael general secretary Tom Curran said.
