Sinn Féin yet to enter presidential race as McDonald rules herself out

James Cox

Here, we have a look at the issues likely to dominate political discourse in the week to come.

Presidential race

Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald has ruled herself out of the presidential race.

It means the party's stance is uncertain with Heather Humphreys running for Fine Gael, Jim Gavin or Billy Kelleher set to battle it out for the Fianna Fáil nomination, and Catherine Connolly running as an Independent.

Speaking on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland ahead of her party’s annual think-in, Ms McDonald said she had to “lead from the front” in holding the current Fianna Fáil-Fine Gael coalition to account.

She said the party had tested “every proposition” in relation to a candidate.

Asked if Northern Ireland First Minister Michelle O’Neill would be the candidate, Ms McDonald said the party’s process was still under way.

“My preference is that we call this right and, at the risk of sounding repetitive, we have options.”

Meanwhile, Tánaiste Simon Harris has brushed off criticism over his direction to Fine Gael councillors not to back any candidate but Ms Humphreys.

Speaking to reporters at the Fine Gael think-in in Mullingar, Mr Harris said: “Show me the line in the Constitution that says Fine Gael must nominate its political opponents. I mean, this is balderdash and it’s the latest attempt at disinformation and misinformation.”

Billionaire Elon Musk has criticised Tánaiste Simon Harris and backed Conor McGregor's unlikely presidential bid.

In posts on his social media platform X, Mr Musk accused Mr Harris of "tyrannically blocking the will of the people of Ireland".

He appared to be referring to the Fine Gael leader's direction to party councillors not to back any other candidate but Heather Humphreys.

Mr Musk, a former key adviser to US president Donald Trump, wrote: "Shame on Simon Harris for tyrannically blocking the will of the people of Ireland! Conor McGregor for President to save Ireland."

Like much American commentary on the presidential election, Mr Musk displayed a lack of knowledge of the Irish system.

To be eligible to run, a candidate must be nominated either by 20 members of the Oireachtas or four local authorities.

They must also be an Irish citizen over the age of 35.

McGregor would be unlikely to get the support of Fine Gael councillors regardless of the direction from Mr Harris.

The former UFC fighter recently claimed he had enough backing to run in the presidential election, without specifying which TDs, senators or local councils had backed him.

He previously claimed the presidential election system was unconstitutional, and launched a petition for it to be changed.

In response to Mr Musk's comments, Mr Harris said: "I see Elon Musk joined in today – and sure, why not?”

He added: “That’s the sort of man he believes should be president of Ireland.

“Thank God – he might have a say as to who is president of the United States of America, but he’s no say in terms of who the president of Ireland is.”

Abroad

Legislators toppled France’s government in a confidence vote on Monday, a new crisis for Europe’s second-largest economy that obliges president Emmanuel Macron to search for a fourth prime minister in 12 months.

In the US, president Donald Trump has re-branded the Department of Defence the Department of War.

He is also threatening to bring the National Guard into Chicago, as he did in Washington DC.