'My name will not go forward' - Mary Lou McDonald rules herself out of presidential race

Mary Lou McDonald has officially ruled herself out of the presidential race, citing the need to focus on her current position.

Speaking on Morning Ireland on Monday, the Sinn Féin leader said she would not be running in the upcoming election, saying she needs to "lead from the front" while in opposition.

Mary Lou said: "There is a real need to get Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael out of office, out of government and also to keep them out of the Áras. For me, at this point in time, my effort has to be in respect to holding this government to account daily, building with my Sinn Féin colleagues and with colleagues beyond Sinn Féin a real alternative as and when the next general election occurs."

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She added that the party's process of selecting a candidate is still underway, and that a final proposition will be delivered to members on Saturday, 20 September. However, Mary Lou did not rule out Northern Ireland First Minister Michelle O'Neill as a potential candidate, saying "everything is in play."

McDonald emphasised that "it's important we get the right person into that office" and stated that candidates beyond Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael can win the presidency. 

The party leader went on to say that in the event of Sinn Féin not putting forward a candidate, that Catherine Connolly would have their support.

Speaking about Connolly, McDonald said: "Catherine has great experience, she's a very independent-minded person, her commitment to social justice domestically and globally is well established and admirable."