Pat Cox has obtained sufficient support within Fine Gael to seek the party's nomination to contest the presidential election,
reports
STEPHEN COLLINS.
Mr Cox has had his nomination papers signed by 20 members of the Oireachtas, 30 of the party’s county councillors and five members of the national executive.
“I am delighted to confirm that I have achieved the necessary level of support from all levels of the Oireachtas, the national executive and Fine Gael councillors throughout the country to allow me to go forward for nomination as Fine Gael candidate for the presidency at the selection convention on the July 9th,” Mr Cox said last night.
He expressed gratitude for the welcome accorded to him by members of the party at all levels and for what he described as “this encouraging level of support”.
The other candidates for the Fine Gael nomination are MEPs Maireád McGuinness and Gay Mitchell and former TD and MEP Avril Doyle.