Taoiseach and Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin has endorsed former Dublin GAA football manager Jim Gavin as the party's candidate in the upcoming Presidential Election.
"I have had a lot of engagement with him and I believe, in this era, he is the person I think best placed to represent the Irish people as president.
"I would make the point that on three previous occasions, Fianna Fáil has nominated people who never had experience as a TD or a minister, Cearbhall Ó Dálaigh, Mary McAleese, Douglas Hyde," he said, speaking from the Daniel O’Connell Summer School in Derrynane in Co Kerry.
Mr Martin said he is keeping with the tradition of endeavouring to keep the presidency "above the partisan political realm".
Watch: Taoiseach confirms he is supporting Jim Gavin's bid to become Fianna Fáil's presidential candidate
One of the party's MEPs, Billy Kelleher, has confirmed that he is also seeking the nomination.
When asked if Mr Kelleher embodies any of the qualities Mr Martin mentioned of Mr Gavin, the Taoiseach described the Mr Kelleher as a parliamentarian, adding: "That is the democratic system."
"I had been engaged for a while with Jim Gavin and also, many people had come to us with other candidates and in all of those conversations, Billy’s name wasn’t mentioned.
"Billy himself didn’t mention that he was interested," he said.
"My last contact with Billy a couple of weeks ago was that he wanted me to run and that was only about two weeks ago."
Mr Martin said he made it clear repeatedly to members of his own parliamentary party that he was committed to being Taoiseach because he went before the people in the last general election, "looking for a mandate to lead Government".
In his letter to party members, Mr Gavin said his agenda for the presidency "will be an active and positive one based on reaching out to every community at home as well as promoting and representing Ireland's values abroad, facilitating the use of the Áras for the people and promoting Ireland’s language, culture, education and enterprise to the wider world".
"My commitment to you is that I will travel to every part of the country, working alongside you and the Party's members, to promote this vision for an active Presidency and to demonstrate Fianna Fáil’s resolute commitment to leading national debate," he added.
Earlier, Fianna Fáil's party whip Paul McAuliffe confirmed that Mr Gavin is seeking a nomination.
The Dublin North West TD said on X: "This morning, Jim Gavin called me to confirm he is seeking a nomination."
"As people around the country get to know Jim, they will see how his humility, his dedication, and his own values make him the right person to represent all of us," he added.
This morning, Jim Gavin called me to confirm he is seeking a nomination. I nominated Jim to be the 82nd Freeman of Dublin because of his service to his sport, to his community, and to his country. Therefore, I would have no hesitation in nominating him to be a candidate to become… pic.twitter.com/8VLFU3BHmL
— Paul McAuliffe TD (@PaulMcauliffe) August 30, 2025
In a post on X, Mr Kelleher wished Mr Gavin well and said that he is looking forward to "a robust debate about how we put forward the values of Fianna Fáil in the coming campaign and also the vision for the presidency".
Fellow Fianna Fáil MEP Barry Andrews endorsed Mr Kelleher on social media.
Also in a post on X, Mr Andrews said the Ireland South MEP was "a leading pro-choice voice during that referendum, and has stood up for the defence of Ukraine and justice in Palestine".
"He has all the credentials to be the next President of Ireland. He has my full support," Mr Andrews added.
It will be a couple of weeks before the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party makes its decision on the issue.
Already the party’s deputy leader Jack Chambers has given his backing to the candidacy of Mr Gavin and Mr Martin is likely to follow this path later today.
Mr Chambers said Mr Gavin is a "person of integrity, humility and distinction with a strong record of public services throughout his life and career".
Read more: Battle lines drawn for Fianna Fáil presidential nomination contest
Mr Kelleher yesterday confirmed his intentions in an e-mail, telling colleagues that he wants to set out his "vision for the presidency".
He contacted the party's TDs, senators and MEPs - a 71-person group which will decide who becomes the candidate.
The presidential election will take place late in October and Independent TD Catherine Connolly is the only confirmed candidate to date.
On Tuesday, Heather Humphreys is set to be announced as Fine Gael’s candidate, while Sinn Féin may not decide its approach to the election for another three weeks.
Maria Steen seeks nomination for presidential run
Maria Steen has confirmed that she is seeking a nomination to run for the presidency.
The barrister who is a member of the Catholic advocacy group, the Iona Institute, was a prominent figure in the family referendum last year, where the government's proposed amendments to the constitution were rejected by voters.
She previously campaigned on the no side during the referendums on same-sex marriage and abortion in 2018.
Ms Steen said that she is open to securing the nomination either through the backing of 20 members of the Oireachtas or via the support of four councils.
"I would be grateful for a nomination from either," she said, adding that it is not easy for non-party candidates to get a nomination.
"Things will become clearer in the next couple of weeks I imagine," she said.
Speaking earlier this year, she praised Iona Institute founder David Quinn for establishing a forum that saw the need for an alternative voice amid a "stifling political consensus in Irish media circles".
