The Taoiseach was speaking after Fianna Fail candidate Jim Gavin withdrew from the contest.

Fianna Fáil and Sinn Féin are set to finalise their candidates this week.

The Fianna Fáil nomination process for a presidential candidate has closed.

Mr Ahern said he did not want to run as an Independent, but accepted he would not be the Fianna Fáil candidate.

The Taoiseach said former pop star Geldof was one of a number of people who had expressed an interest in running for the role.

‘This is about the presidency, its not about Fianna Fáil,’ the party leader said.

The presidential candidate also said she had been energised by a visit to the Electric Picnic music festival.

The final decision on the nomination will be made by the party later.

Former taoiseach Bertie Ahern said he was not ruling himself out of the race.

Ms Connolly, an independent TD for Galway, said she remained “hopeful” that the largest opposition party will support her bid for the presidency.

Former Dublin football manager Jim Gavin is being lined up as Fianna Fáil's presidential nominee, with sources indicating he would have the backing of senior party figures

There are questions over whether senior Fianna Fail figures would oppose a bid by former leader and Taoiseach Bertie Ahern.

Bertie Ahern has confirmed he is considering running for president, amid support from within Fianna Fáil

The poll also found she is the most popular in a list of potential candidates for Áras an Uachtaráin

Established political figures like Catherine Connolly and Mairead McGuinness are lining up alongside unconventional candidates to succeed outgoing President Michael D Higgins.

Bertie Ahern is the preferred Fianna Fáil candidate in the upcoming presidential election, according to the latest opinion poll

Last year, the State brought a motion requesting that a preliminary issue on a point of law be heard and determined separately from the full trial but failed in the action and appealed.

The Regional Independent Group has the "air of a political party about them" and are likely to be stable partners for Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, according to a political commentator

After the 2024 general election, Irish people will go to the polls again in 2025 to elect the next president

Irish and British authorities acknowledged that adding the Real IRA to the US list would also have benefits.

Mr Blair called on the IRA to provide clarity on ‘three questions’ around disarmament.

The gangland figure missed out on the last seat in the Dublin Central constituency to the Labour Party’s Marie Sherlock.

The former Fianna Fáil leader said when he was involved in politics, the big issue was people leaving the country - and now it is the opposite.

Former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern called on the UK intelligence services to release all information about the 1974 attacks

The former taoiseach is set to take part in a conversation event with the New Ireland Commission on Tuesday.

Bertie Ahern said that if he had been snubbed by British officials, he would ‘tell them the next meeting is in Kerry’.

The State is refusing “point blank” to tell the High Court if an agreement exists permitting the British Royal Air Force (RAF) to intercept any aircraft posing a threat in Irish airspace, a judge has observed

The former taoiseach made the comments as he attended the 82nd Fianna Fáil Ard Fheis in Dublin

So where did the traditions start? 

A meeting David Trimble had with residents was said to be ‘instrumental in creating the climate for a discontinuation of the protest’.

Amid Northern Ireland peace process efforts, Bertie Ahern asked Tony Blair to look at the issue to close ‘an unhappy period in Anglo-Irish relations’

The tribute to Lord Trimble is displayed at Leinster House beside a bust of John Hume which was unveiled in March.