Galway West Fianna Fáil TD Éamon Ó Cuív has said he never indicated that he would stand for the presidency.
He has expressed bemusement at how much media interest was generated by a letter suggesting he be put forward as a candidate.
Last month, Galway City Councillor Ollie Crowe contacted party colleagues, asking that they consider nominating Mr Ó Cuív to contest the election.
Speaking on Galway Bay FM this morning, Mr Ó Cuív said he had met a delegation of local authority councillors at the end of July.
However, he said that he had consistently stated that if Michael D Higgins was a candidate in October's election, that he would not run against him.
Mr Ó Cuív said the circumstances were "very clear now" and said he had drafted a letter to councillors he met during the summer, to reiterate his position. He said this would be sent in the coming days.
This afternoon, at a special meeting of Galway City Council, Cllr Crowe said it was wrong that Fianna Fáil did not have a candidate in the race.
He said it was his view that the party should have contested the election and he believed the vast majority of the 20,000 strong membership wanted to run a candidate.
He said the decision of Fianna Fáil headquarters appeared to be taking precedence over the views of elected members.
