The President, Mrs McAleese, will decide over the summer whether she will seek re-election for a second seven year term in the autumn, writes Renagh Holohan in Brasilia
Mrs McAleese, speaking yesterday ahead of her meeting with President Lula of Brazil on the last leg of her South American trip, said she had a busy period coming up with the May 1st celebrations for EU enlargement and then the European and local elections. "Maybe after that, Martin and I will have the time to think about it over the summer. I have not yet decided."
She had felt very privileged over the past six years and she was privileged now to be going home to an Ireland that had such a good story to tell. Argentina, Chile and Brazil all had natural resources that left one breathless but they had been harvested for their wealth over the centuries.
Now democracy was bedded down and governments were committed to not overlooking the poor. There were so many highlights on her trip, the President said, that no physical one stood out. What had been a highlight in all three countries though was the interest everywhere in Ireland and the queries about how we had achieved our success. The poverty she saw in South America, she said, was not unlike that of the Ireland of not so long ago but things were improving.
At her meeting with President Lula, who is known as the Tony Blair of South America for his socialist rhetoric and background but centrist policies, Mrs McAleese discussed the links between Ireland and Brazil, including potential trade ties.
She said she was interested in hearing about his "zero hunger campaign" and about progress in judicial and human rights reform as well as youth and drug crime and his efforts to help street children.
Yesterday afternoon Mrs McAleese made a number of courtesy calls in the capital. The city of four million was purpose-built 40 years ago and is now the seat of government. Last night she was guest of honour at a dinner hosted by President Lula in the Ministry for Foreign Affairs.
The President will leave Sao Paulo this evening and arrive back in Dublin tomorrow.