RTE's Joe Duffy breaks silence on Presidential speculation
Mr Duffy, who retired from RTÉ just last week after over three decades, had been linked to a run and had been tipped as a contender for either a Fianna Fáil or unity candidate for the left.
However, taking to social media on Saturday afternoon, Mr Duffy put the rumours to bed and insisted that he would not run to replace President Michael D Higgins.
He wrote: 'Thanks , but to be absolutely clear I am NOT seeking a nomination from any politicians , local or national, for the office of President. I will not be adding anything further.'
In response to one X user who asked if Mr Duffy was 'categorically saying you will not be running for the role of President of Ireland', the Dublin man responded, 'Yes'.
The confirmation comes a week after Mr Duffy refused to give a definitive answer on entering the presidential election campaign during a round of retirement interviews.
He said: "I will not lose the run of myself. I can see the Aras from Claddagh Green [in Ballyfermot], I'd say that's the closest I'll ever get to it."
In Leinster House earlier this week, People Before Profit's Paul Murphy refused to give a definitive answer on whether Mr Duffy could be a candidate for the joint left. He had also been linked to a run for Fianna Fáil.
Fine Gael will become the first political party out of the presidential election traps as it opens its nomination process tomorrow on Monday.
It is widely expected that current MEP and former GAA President Sean Kelly and former European Commissioner Mairead McGuinness will fight a two-way battle to secure the party's backing.
President Michael D Higgins will depart Áras an Uachtaran on November 11 following a 14-year stint. The election must take place 60 days before his departure, with polling day most likely to be in October.
Fine Gael will open its nomination process on Monday just over a week until Tuesday July 15 at 4pm. John Carroll, Fine Gael General Secretary, recently told the party that a candidate needs the nomination of 20 members of the Parliamentary Party, 25 Fine Gael Councillors and five members of the Executive Council.
In the event of a contest, Fine Gael will apply the 'electoral college' voting system it uses in other votes, such as to elect a party leader or to ratify programmes for government. Anyone who has been a member of Fine Gael for two years has a vote.
The membership vote is worth 30% of the overall vote, the Councillors' votes are worth 15% and the Parliamentary Party votes account for 55%.
Mr Carroll explained: 'There will be a number of hustings held in late July with a postal ballot of members to take place across August.
'The Parliamentary Party will vote in one location, and a decision is to be taken as to how councillors will vote (whether in person or by postal ballot).
'The result will be announced, and the candidate ratified at an event in early September.
'Whilst most members do not have a role in the nomination process, the Executive Council has agreed that when a person sets out that they are seeking the Party nomination, they will be given the opportunity to send an email to all members setting out their case.'
Mr Carroll noted that the Fine Gael Executive Council will write to each Fine Gael council group to 'get their views on how we, as a Party, should approach the issue of independents or individuals from other parties seeking nominations to contest this election'.
Independent candidates can run for election if they receive support from either 20 Oireachtas members or four county councils.
However, the Irish Mirror understands that both Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil will not allow their councillors to back non-party candidates.
This could narrow the electoral field. Out of 949 elected councillors across the country. Some 248 are Fianna Fáil, while another 245 are in Fine Gael.
Between them, Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael have the majority on 21 of 31 councils.
On the councils where they do not have a majority, there tends to be a high number of Sinn Féin, Labour or Social Democrats councillors elected.
Ms McGuiness is seen by many in Fine Gael to be the front runner to secure the party's presidential nomination.
Mr Kelly told the Irish Times this weekend that he is '50-50' on whether he will contest, but most in Fine Gael believe he will enter the race.
There is also a desire amongst some in the party that there is a competition for the position following Simon Harris' uncontested bid to become party leader in April 2024.
Fine Gael is the only party not holding their cards to their chest as the presidential election draws ever closer.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said that Fianna Fáil will decide on its strategy after the summer to save candidates from a deluge of headlines during the quiet summer period.
Former minister Mary Hanafin stated last week that she would be interested in contesting the presidential election.
However, this was met with raised eyebrows from her Fianna Fáil colleagues, with several members of the parliamentary party telling the Irish Mirror that 'nobody wants her to run'.
One TD remarked that Ms Hanafin had failed to get elected to the Dáil in the Dun Laoghaire constituency in the 2011, 2016 and 2020 elections.
They added: 'The only hope Fianna Fáil has of winning the presidential election is if Micheál [Martin] himself runs.'
Meanwhile, the Irish Examiner reported on Saturday that Riverdance star Michael Flatley is considering an Áras bid.
Other names in the frame include Independent TD Catherine Connolly and Independent Senator Aubrey McCarthy.
MMA fighter Conor McGregor, former candidate and Dragon Dens star Peter Casey and lawyer and failed general election candidate Nick Delahanty have all expressed interest in contesting the election. However, the likelihood of any receiving enough support to secure a nomination is slim.
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