MIRIAM O’CALLAGHAN I WILL NOT BE A CANDIDATE FOR PRESIDENT
AFTER months of speculation, RTÉ broadcaster Miriam O’Callaghan has ruled herself out of the Presidential election.
In March, she had fuelled speculation she was considering running for the Áras by revealing she is taking a break from her summer chat show.
At a charity event this week, Ms O’Callaghan was asked a dozen times if she was considering running for President but refused to comment.
She repeatedly told reporters we had a “wonderful President”.
Last night, she finally confirmed she would not be seeking a nomination to run for President.
Ms O’Callaghan said she had been “touched and a little embarrassed” when people approached her at charity events suggesting she should run for the office.
“Out of respect to them, and to our serving President, I have always declined to engage in those discussions,” she said.
“However, given the recent resurgence of speculation, I want to state that I will not be a candidate in an upcoming Presidential election. I would also like to make clear that I have always been, and will always remain, independent of any political party.”
The broadcaster explained she was taking time off this summer to work on a documentary on The Troubles.
“I’m looking forward to spending the summer working on a landmark documentary about the 50th anniversary of the civil rights marches in the North and the Troubles, a place and a story that I’ve covered indepth throughout my career,” she said.
Earlier this week, Independent Senator and Presidential hopeful Gerard Craughwell had urged other people who intend to run to declare their intentions.
“I feel we should discuss the role, and we should have contenders coming out of the woodwork,” he said.
“There are no coronations of individuals in Ireland.”
President Michael D Higgins’ seven-year term of office is due to conclude before the end of this year.
He previously said he would be a one-term President but has recently hinted that he would like a second term, saying he had laid “solid foundations” since replacing Mary McAleese in 2011.
A number of potential candidates have said they would rule themselves out if Mr Higgins was to put himself forward for a second term.
A spokesperson for President Higgins said he will announce his intentions this summer.
“President Higgins remains fully focused on his work,” the spokesperson added.