Foyle MP Colum Eastwood considering enter Irish Presidential race

Foyle MP Colum Eastwood has said he is considering entering the Irish presidential race.

Speaking to the BBC, Mr Eastwood said people had asked him to consider standing.

"There's very few candidates in the field right now. It's something that needs a lot of consideration," he said.

"I'm going to take the time to think about it, but it's a long summer and there's enough to be getting on with before any decisions around that would have to be made."

However, Taoiseach Micheál Martin said he is not aware of any engagement with former SDLP leader Colum Eastwood over becoming the Fianna Fáil candidate for the Irish presidency.

Asked to confirm if Mr Eastwood had been approached by the Fianna Fáil party, Mr Martin questioned the basis for the question, adding: “There’s been no contact with me, there’s been no engagement that I am aware of from the Fianna Fáil party and it hasn’t been on the agenda at all.”

Mr Martin said he was “surprised” to hear Mr Eastwood was considering a run but said “it’s open to everybody to put themselves forward”.

He said Mr Eastwood was a “very effective parliamentarian” but Fianna Fáil had not concluded on deliberations “at all”.

The election has to be held before November 11.

Incumbent President Michael D Higgins is not eligible to stand again as he will have completed two full seven-year terms.

"I've done a lot of work over the past number of months, in stepping down as party leader, on a new Ireland and speaking to people right across the political divide across the island," Eastwood said.

Mr Eastwood resigned as the SDLP leader in October 2024.

He retained his Westminster seat last year, albeit with a much reduced majority.