Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin’s authority suffered a fresh blow last night when Senator Labhrás Ó Murchú sought his party’s permission to run for President of Ireland.
In an unexpected turn to the presidential race, Mr Ó Murchú told colleagues at a lengthy meeting of the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party he wanted to run as an Independent candidate with the support of some of the party's Oireachtas members. No decision was taken, however, and the party will reconvene on Tuesday.
Dana Rosemary Scallon is also seeking the support of Fianna Fáil, as well as other Oireachtas members, to enter the race. Earlier yesterday, Independent Senator David Norris announced his decision to seek the support of Independent TDs and Senators to re-enter the campaign.
The move by one of Fianna Fáil's lesser-known Senators represented a challenge to the authority of Mr Martin. Fianna Fáil had decided not to run a candidate in the presidential election on October 27th for the first time in the party's history.
Mr Ó Murchú (72), from Cashel, Co Tipperary, who was not on Mr Martin's list of 10 preferred Seanad candidates ahead of last April's Seanad elections, said he had support from outside Fianna Fáil but would require some backing from the party's Oireachtas members. He asked Mr Martin to allow a free vote.
Mr Ó Murchú claimed to have been approached by non-Fianna Fáil TDs and Senators who appealed to him to contest. To secure a nomination, potential candidates require the support of 20 TDs and/or Senators, or the backing of four county councils.