Bruton says 'no' to FG on presidency

The prospect of two Meath-based candidates battling it out for the Fine Gael nomination to run for the presidency this year was knocked on the head at the weekend by former Taoiseach John Bruton, who announced he would not seek the nomination. Mairead McGuinness, the Drumconrath-based Ireland East MEP, already has indicated she will seek the party nomination to run in the election to replace Mary McAleese. Mr Bruton said at the weekend that he had discussed the matter thoroughly with the party's representative and had promised to reflect on the request to allow his name to go forward for selection as the Fine Gael candidate. "I did so about 10 days ago," he added. "I said, with regret, that I did not wish my name to be among those considered." Mr Bruton said it was a very great honour to have been asked and he would support whoever was selected as the party's candidate. He dismissed suggestions that his decision was linked to the controversy surrounding the proposals of his brother, Minister for Enterprise Richard Bruton, to cut Sunday and overtime payments for 200,000 workers. "There is no foundation to that," he said. "I have been in constant contact with Taoiseach Enda Kenny and on good terms with members of the government." Meanwhile, in Ashbourne last week, Mairead McGuinness dismissed suggestions that the role of the President needed to be changed, remarks which could have been seen as targeted at John Bruton, who was reported in some national media as wishing to change the emphasis and shorten the term of the President. During the recent visits of Queen Elizabeth and President Barack Obama to Ireland, the office of President of Ireland came into its own and the time is opportune to reflect on the office and its position in the life of the country, Mairead McGuinness said. Speaking at a public meeting of the Fine Gael party in Ashbourne, the MEP said: "There is no doubt but the work of Mary Robinson and the powerful presidency of Mary McAleese have transformed the office and made it a part of public life in Ireland of which we are all immensely proud. "The Constitution is very specific on the role of President in a number of areas, such as the appointment of the Taoiseach on the nomination of the Dáil, the dissolution of the Dáil, the signing into law of every Bill passed by both houses of the Oireachtas and in terms of the supreme command of the Defence Forces being vested in the Presidency." She said the current and previous incumbents have shown that the President, without being in any way political, is in a position under the Constitution to play a role of leadership, be it economic, social, cultural or inspirational. "We need to move beyond a narrow definition of power when we are talking about the presidency. The kind of power the President can exercise is that of 'soft' power, which is just as important for society and for communities as traditional hard power of the political world," she added. Former Dunsany resident Fergus Finlay, son of the writer Lilian Roberts Finlay, and a former government adviser; former TD Michael D Higgins, and former senator Kathleen O'Meara, are seeking the labour party nomination, to be decided by the party on 19th June. Those who have declared as independents include Senator David Norris and Special Olympics chief Mary Davis, who are each seeking the support of 20 members of the Oireachtas or four county councils. Fianna Fail caused surprise at Meath County Council recently when proposing to support the candidature of Senator Norris when he addressed the meeting, after party leader Michael Martin said members could support independent candidates if they wished. Others who have expressed an interest in running are businessman Seán Gallagher and former European Parliament president Pat Cox, as well as Fine Gael MEP and former GAA president, Sean Kelly.