Eight possibilities for president
Michael D Higgins
Age: 69
Party: The Labour Party
Odds: 14/1
A Senator since 1973 and a TD from 1981, Mr Higgins was minister for arts, culture and the Gaeltacht from 1992 to 1997. Expressed an interest in contesting the presidency in 2004 but his candidature was opposed by party leadership and defeated by a single vote by its national executive. He has said many branches of the party say they would like to see him run. Asked about his intentions, he said: “I am giving thought to it and will consider my position.”
Fergus Finlay
Age: 60
Party: The Labour Party
Odds: 12/1
He has never held elected office but was senior adviser to Labour leaders Dick Spring and Pat Rabbitte during a 26-year career with the party. He has been chief executive of children’s charity Barnardos since 2005. He writes a weekly column for the Irish Examiner. In the run-up to the Labour conference in April, he said he would be very tempted to run for the presidency. “My gut says ‘yes’ but I’m not 100 per cent sure how to express that eloquently,” he said.
John Bruton
Age: 62
Party: Fine Gael
Odds: 8/1
A TD from 1969 to 2004, he was also taoiseach between 1994 and 1997.
He served as ambassador of the European Union to the US from 2004 to 2009.
Mr Bruton wrote to all 27 member states last year, expressing his interest in the new post of president of the European Council. He has expressed no interest in public in the presidential position, although his name is frequently mentioned within Fine Gael.
Senator Mary White
Age: 64
Party: Fianna Fáil
Odds: 25/1
The Louth-born businesswoman, who founded Lir Chocolates in 1987, has been in the Seanad on the industrial and commercial panel since 2002.
She has said her first priority is re-election to Seanad. On a run for the presidency, she said: “Yes, I am interested”.
Brian Crowley MEP
Age: 46
Party: Fianna Fáil
Odds: 9/4
First elected to the European Parliament in 1994 for Munster/South and has topped the poll each election since then, even when Fianna Fáil’s support levels dipped. A wheelchair-user since he was 16, when he fell from a building which left him paralysed from the hips down. He survived a serious car accident a number of years ago. His spokesman said this week: “He would be honoured to be considered as a candidate but he is focusing on his job in Europe for now.”
Senator David Norris
Age: 66
Party: Independent
Odds: 3/1
The former TCD lecturer and Joycean scholar has been a Senator since 1987. He has campaigned for gay rights in Ireland for four decades. His name was mentioned as a possible Labour Party candidate in 2004. He confirmed his interest in being a candidate in 2011 earlier this year. A Facebook campaign backing his candidacy has attracted more than 5,000 members to date. Asked about his intentions, he said: “Certainly, if the opportunity arose, I would give it everything I could.”
Mairéad McGuinness MEP
Age: 50
Party: Fine Gael
Odds: 10/1
The former journalist and television presenter comfortably topped the poll in last year’s European elections to retain a seat she first won in 2004. Has a high- recognition factor. Only setback was a failed run for the Dáil in 2007. When asked this week about the prospect of running, she said: “I have not thought about it at all and not made any decision.”
Bertie Ahern TD
Age: 58
Party: Fianna Fáil
Odds: 8/1
A TD since 1977, he served as taoiseach between 1997 and 2008. For several years, his name had been mentioned as a candidate for both the presidential and Dublin mayoral elections. However, the controversy over his personal finances and the economic recession have dented his popularity. When asked about the presidency this week, a spokesman for Mr Ahern said: “It’s not something that arises at this stage.”