Fine Gael's Seán Kelly has said he is still considering whether he will seek the party’s nomination to contest the presidential election later this year.
The Ireland South MEP said while it would be "a great honour," but that he has not made a decision on whether or not he will bid to run for Áras an Uachtaráin.
Speaking to reporters at the European Parliament in Brussels, he said: "I haven’t my mind made up yet."
However, he said he has discussed the matter with the leadership of the party, which he said would be "quite open to having a competition" because there was no such competition to be party leader.
Mr Kelly and former EU commissioner Mairead McGuinness are among the names in Fine Gael being touted as potential candidates.
Former minister Heather Humphreys has ruled herself out of a bid, as has former minister and MEP Frances Fitzgerald.
The Co Kerry MEP said he also believes the membership of the party would like to see an internal contest for the Fine Gael nomination.
"Democracies thrive on elections, without elections you can't have democracies. The members like to be able to exercise their franchise," he said.
He said it would give whoever was chosen "a bit of momentum" going into contest to succeed Michael D Higgins, and he said it would be very clear that person "was the choice of the party".
Mr Kelly will be among a delegation of MEPs travelling on a mission to New Zealand next month.
He said he will make up his mind before he travels and "then relax",
The former GAA President raised questions about the seven-year term a president of Ireland serves in office.
"The length of term is a deterrent," he said.
Mr Kelly described the term length as "crazy really" and he pointed to the fact the government, councils and MEPs are elected for five-year terms, adding that "Trump only has four".
"Seven years is a long time, especially when you’re coming up in age," he added.
If he did go forward to become the next president, he said one term would be "more than enough" for him.
He insisted, the trappings of it "wouldn’t mean a whole pile" to him.
