MINISTER OF State for Science, Technology and Innovation Conor Lenihan said last night he will not be standing for the leadership of Fianna Fáil. He is expected to support his brother Brian in the contest.
Mr Lenihan said he had decided not to put his name forward after canvassing the views of Dáil colleagues and party activists. However, he declared an interest in standing for the leadership at some time in the future.
Last Thursday, he called on Taoiseach Brian Cowen to quit. Yesterday morning, he went on television and radio programmes to say he was seriously considering entering the race to be next leader of Fianna Fáil.
He said he would first consult with colleagues to see if there was a willingness to support him. If an inadequate choice was being given to the party, he would put himself forward. Last night, however, he said his canvass had shown that most of his colleagues had already made commitments to one or other of the four candidates already declared. As a result, he had decided not to put his name forward.
His decision means there will almost certainly be just four candidates for the post - his brother Brian, Mary Hanafin, Micheál Martin and Éamon Ó Cuív.
