Fine Gael is re-examining its approach to the presidential contest following the shock withdrawal of party candidate Mairead McGuinness on health grounds.
The former EU commissioner was the frontrunner in the race.
Senior figures across the party have been sending their best wishes to Ms McGuinness and her family.
Tánaiste Simon Harris said Ms McGuinness has made “an incredible contribution to public life” and would have made “an excellent president”.
The decision is a setback for the party, which had high hopes of winning the election and is now scrambling to find a way forward.
Party sources have said there will be a “complete re-examination of the entire approach” to the election.
“She was all set – the party was all set,” one source said.
“This is shocking and it’s a completely new situation for Fine Gael. It is like starting all over again.”
The party’s national executive will meet on Sunday. While it is expected some new timelines will be set, it is highly unlikely any potential candidates will come forward by then.
Sources said “cool heads” and “space” are needed as former or would-be contenders consider their options.
The party had been planning to formally launch a campaign next month, and there is not a huge amount of time to find a replacement.
Attention will now shift to the Ireland South MEP Seán Kelly and former ministers Frances Fitzgerald and Heather Humphreys, who previously expressed their interest, but withdrew their names to pave the way for Ms McGuinness.
Former tánaiste Simon Coveney did not put his name forward for nomination, but it has been suggested he could be persuaded to do so if that was deemed in the party’s best interest.
It is also possible that the party could look to one of its current big-name ministers, such as Paschal Donohoe.
It is understood that while posters had not been printed for Ms McGuinness, a team of party advisers had been assembled, and a campaign plan was at “an advanced stage”.
This will now be transferred to the new candidate.
Informing Fine Gael members of her decision yesterday, she said: “My priority now is my health. Given that the election is in a short couple of months, I do not believe that I have the strength to give the campaign my all. I am taking this decision on medical advice and while it is extremely difficult, it is the right decision for me and my family.”
She acknowledged in her email that the development “will come as a shock” to party members.
“I have spoken with the Tánaiste and party leader, Simon Harris, and thank him for his support and understanding,” she said.
“I also want to thank all of those people who have done so much to support me, now and in the past.”
Her email concluded: “My focus now is my health and my family and I ask for privacy in the time ahead.”
In a statement, Mr Harris said: “It was our clear view in Fine Gael and the view of many people across Ireland that Mairead would make an excellent president of Ireland.
“Mairead’s health will not now allow this. This has come as an awful shock to us all. Mairead is a valued member of our Fine Gael family.
“It is absolutely essential that she now prioritises her health and I know I speak for everyone when I wish her all the very best on that journey.”
Mr Harris said Fine Gael would reconsider its strategy, “but that’s for the time ahead, not for today”.
“I want to pay tribute to Mairead. I want to thank her for all she has done,” he said.
“I want to wish her and Tom [her husband] and her family all the best at this time ahead, and she knows we are all sending her our very best.”
Independent Galway TD Catherine Connolly is now the only candidate formally in the race. In a statement, she said: “I would like to extend my best wishes to Mairead and her family at this time, and the best for the future.”
Sinn Féin and Fianna Fáil have said they will make their decisions on whether to run candidates in the coming weeks – something that may be influenced by the withdrawal of the frontrunner.
Read the full story here: https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/politics/like-starting-all-over-again-fine-gael-scrambles-to-regroup-after-shock-departure-of-mairead-mcguinness-from-presidential-race/a1479499588.html
Credit to : Irish Independent