The Fianna Fáil leadership was contacting members of the parliamentary party last night to rally support for Jim Gavin in the Presidency race, Extra.ie can reveal.
It is understood Taoiseach Micheál Martin favours the former Dublin football manager as his party’s candidate, and ministers have met the GAA legend about a possible tilt at the Áras. It is also understood that Mr. Gavin is keen to run.
Earlier in the week, Extra.ie reported that the former Dublin boss was viewed as a ‘serious candidate’ by Fianna Fáil’s leadership for the upcoming Presidential election.
Fianna Fáil will meet next week to discuss the process of selecting a candidate, and by then, the leadership hopes to have secured the necessary support from members of the parliamentary party.
Extra.ie also understands MEP and former minister Billy Kelleher is sounding out members of the parliamentary party about supporting him in a run for the Presidency. However, the emerging support from Mr. Martin and ministers is expected to give irresistible momentum to Mr. Gavin.
Sources have said that Mr. Gavin is viewed as a ‘strong contender’ by the Taoiseach and has been contacted by Fianna Fáil officials in relation to the race for the Áras this autumn. However, a senior party source pointed out earlier this week that a deal between the GAA legend and the party "is not yet over the line."
Mr. Gavin’s entry into the contest came after Mr. Kelleher last night was also set to enter the race. Mr. Gavin’s name entered the fray late last week as a potential candidate for Fianna Fáil as the pressure mounted on Mr. Martin to declare his preferred nominee.
Sources in the party noted the floating of Mr. Gavin’s name conveniently came just as speculation around Bertie Ahern was reaching its height.
Bertie Ahern.
There was speculation that his name was strategically leaked to send a clear message to Mr. Ahern that the party had a preferred candidate. However, Mr. Gavin, a former Defence Forces officer and now the chief operations officer of the Irish Aviation Authority, has still not commented on whether he wants to run.
Mr. Gavin left the Dublin GAA role in 2019 after seven years at the helm, during which he won six All-Ireland titles, including the historic five-in-a-row. Since then, he has continued to play an active part in the GAA and led the internal body which revised the rules of Gaelic football.
The rule changes, including two points for a long-range score, have been largely viewed as a success since being implemented this season.
Mr. Gavin was also chairman of the Citizens’ Assembly on Dublin, which recommended a directly elected mayor for the capital. He appeared before an Oireachtas committee to advocate for the implementation of the recommendations.
The 54-year-old was also appointed as the chairman of the North East Inner City Implementation Board. He took up the role on a pro bono basis after businessman Michael Stone stepped down when it emerged that a donation from Mr. Stone to Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe had not been declared.
Mr. Gavin’s current job as chief operations officer with the Irish Aviation Authority follows on from his role in the Air Corps, where he served with the UN.
Fianna Fáil now looks like it has three candidates set to formally enter the race for the Presidency. Mr. Kelleher is also expected to throw his hat into the ring, with Mary Hanafin, a former Cabinet minister, also intent on pushing for a nomination.
However, sources in the parliamentary party yesterday said they were simply waiting for the nod from Mr. Martin as to which candidate the party should back.
Earlier this month, Mr. Ahern emerged as the most popular choice within Fianna Fáil to contest the Presidential election.
Almost a quarter, or 24%, of those polled believe he would be the ideal candidate to represent the party, five points ahead of Mr. Martin.
*This article was originally published on Extra.ie. Additional reporting by Brian Mahon.
Comments