FRANCES FITZGERALD WILL not seek the nomination to be Fine Gael’s presidential candidate.

The former Justice Minister and MEP had given “serious consideration” to contesting the race before ruling herself out in April, according to Fine Gael sources.

Fitzgerald confirmed to The Journal this afternoon that she will be sticking to her original decision not to enter the contest. 

It comes in the wake of Mairead McGuinness’ shock departure from the race yesterday, following medical advice.

The party has now turned its attention to finding a candidate to replace the former MEP as its candidate to run for the Áras. It is understood the Executive Council will now meet on Sunday and the party process will now reopen.

Following Fitzgerald’s confirmation that she is staying out of the race, two names are the stand-out candidates in the mix: MEP Sean Kelly and former Social Protection Minister Heather Humphreys. 

It had been expected that Kelly might run against McGuinness for the party’s nomination, but in the end, he said he was “reluctantly” ruling himself out of the race for the Áras

While he said it was “the most difficult decision” he’s had to make in his political life, some within the party said they thought perhaps he was urged to not put his hat in the ring, so as to avoid party hustings between two candidates, but that he was very much interested in running.

When asked by The Journal this afternoon if he was reconsidering his choice, he said he “must reconsider it in light of Mairead’s unfortunate announcement”. Sources have told The Journal that Kelly will run for the party’s nomination. 

Despite also ruling herself out repeatedly since she left office, Humphreys has emerged as a name some within the party think could re-emerge as a possibility.

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She also said she considered running but ruled herself out earlier this year, stating that it was for the same reasons that she left politics – she wants to spend more time with family.

Speaking to RTÉ this afternoon, Independent TD Michael Healy Rae said he would back Humphreys ”wholeheartedly” in the presidential election if she were to run. 

“She’s a very well grounded person, what I would call a solid, sound political performer,” he said, adding that she would have “very broad appeal throughout the country”. 

With reporting from Christina Finn