SINN FÉIN HAS not yet decided whether to field its own presidential candidate or back another, party leader Mary Lou McDonald has said.

The Dublin TD said she has been thinking about things “on a personal level” but that she has also been listening to the party on its views.

Asked whether the party had made its decision on whether to run its own candidate, McDonald said it is “still in the process of deliberation”.

“We have essentially two options. To stand a Sinn Féin candidate or to back another, and the party is still talking about that.”

She said that the party will “make that call” in September.

Asked if she would like to be president, McDonald said: “I would like to be in the sunshine now walking the hills of north Portugal.”

Opposition parties who have endorsed left-wing candidate Catherine Connolly hope that Sinn Féin will also throw their support behind her in the upcoming election.

Connolly is backed by Labour, the Social Democrats, People Before Profit and several independents. 

On whether Sinn Féin will support Connolly if they rule out fielding their own candidate, McDonald told reporters: “We’re looking at all options, and of course, the electorate will decide ultimately.”

“It strikes me that outside of maybe political people and media people, when I’m out and about, this is not the lead issue on people’s minds.

“People are struggling with the cost-of-living crisis. That’s what I’m hearing.

“Kids are getting back to school. Young people are starting university and college. They’re wondering what their fees are going to be.

“We have our process under way. We’re weighing up all of those issues for us.

“I will say this, the issue of Ireland’s future and Irish reunification matters in this campaign, the issue of Ireland’s place in the world as a neutral but also as a champion of the UN system of the fair and equal application of international human rights. All of that matters in this campaign.”

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Fine Gael had selected Mairéad McGuinness as its candidate but was set back by her needing to withdraw from the election for health reasons after spending time in hospital.

The party reopened nominations and two contenders have emerged: MEP Sean Kelly and former party deputy leader Heather Humphreys.

Humphreys appears to have a significant lead over Kelly in terms of supporter numbers within the party but Kelly has insisted he is still in the running.

Fianna Fáil has not yet declared whether it will field a candidate.

Additional reporting by Press Association