NOT FITZ FOR PREZ

FORMER justice minister Frances Fitzgerald will not seek the Fine Gael nomination for the presidency.

- BY CIARA O'LOUGHLIN

Ms Fitzgerald had been mentioned as a potential replacement for former European commissioner Mairead McGuinness, who withdrew from the election on Thursday citing health grounds.

However, Ms Fitzgerald confirmed last night that she would not seek the nomination, having declined to do so earlier this year.

The withdrawal of Ms McGuinness means the party is seeking a nominee for the election which will happen in the next 11 weeks or so.

The party's executive committee is due to meet to set out a new nomination process.