Mairead McGuinness withdraws from presidential election
Former MEP and European Commissioner Mairead McGuinness has withdrawn from the presidential election citing health reasons.
Last month, McGuinness, who started her career as an agricultural journalist, secured the Fine Gael nomination to run as a candidate to become President of Ireland.
In a statement released this afternoon (Thursday, August 14), McGuinness said she had made the "very difficult decision to withdraw my name as the Fine Gael nominee for the presidential election".
"This decision is not lightly taken and follows a stay in hospital last week.
"My priority now is my health. Given that the election is in a short couple of month, I do not believe that I have the strength to give the campaign my all.
"I am taking this decision on medical advice and and while it is extremely difficult, it is the right decision for me and my family," she said.
"I appreciate that this will come as a shock and disappointment to party members and colleagues in Fine Gael, but our political family is strong.
"I have spoken with the Tánaiste and [Fine Gael] party leader, Simon Harris, and thank him for his support and understanding.
"I also want to thank all of those people who have done so much to support me, now and in the past.
"My focus now is my health and my family, and I ask for privacy in the time ahead," McGuinness added.
Tánaiste and Fine Gael leader Simon Harris said that "Mairead McGuinness has made an incredible contribution to public life in Ireland and in Europe".
"It was our clear view in Fine Gael and the view of many people across Ireland that Mairead would make an excellent President of Ireland. Mairead’s health will not now allow this," he said.
"This has come as an awful shock to us all. Mairead is a valued member of our Fine Gael family.
"It is absolutely essential that she now prioritises her health and I know I speak for everyone when I wish her all the very best on that journey," he added.
The Fine Gael leader said that in the coming days the party's executive council will gather to "consider further the presidential election".
"But that’s for the time ahead, not for today. Today I want to pay tribute to Mairead.
"I want to thank her for all she has done. I want to wish her and Tom and their family all the best at this time and she knows we are all sending her our very best," Harris said.
Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Martin Heydon is Fine Gael's director of elections for the upcoming presidential elections.
He said that Mairead McGuinness "served Fine Gael and Ireland with distinction in her public life".
"The Fine Gael Executive Council will meet in the coming days to discuss the next steps, but for now, I, along with Mairead’s many friends and colleagues within the party send their very best wishes to her and her family," he said.
