The presidential candidate also said she had been energised by a visit to the Electric Picnic music festival.

The final decision on the nomination will be made by the party later.

The independent TD for Galway visited Belfast.

The Tánaiste is full of empathy, a Fine Gael minister said as he backed Simon Harris.

Two hopefuls have announced their intention to seek Fine Gael’s nomination for president.

Fine Gael is set for a contest for the party's presidential nomination, with party figures starting to come out in support of former minister Heather Humphreys and TD Seán Kelly

Fianna Fáil MEP Billy Kelleher has said that a meeting of his party’s parliamentary party should be "convened urgently" to discuss the forthcoming presidential election

Speaking on RTÉ radio’s Morning Ireland, Mr Kelly said that his previous announcement that he would not contest the election had been “the most difficult decision” of his career.

It comes after Mairead McGuinness withdrew from the race for Áras an Uachtaráin.

The poll also found she is the most popular in a list of potential candidates for Áras an Uachtaráin

MEP Seán Kelly says he's reconsidering whether to run for the presidency after Mairead McGuinness withdrew from the running

Frances Fitzgerald has ruled herself out of the presidential race despite Mairead McGuinness' departure from the election contest

Mairead McGuinness said she made the 'very difficult decision' to stand down following a stay in hospital last week.

She added that her deicision to pull out was not taken lightly, and was made following a stay in hospital last week. 

A TD who travelled to Egypt to meet Palestinians impacted by Israel's onslaught on Gaza has said they "so much appreciated" Ireland's solidarity and efforts to pass the Occupied Territories Bill

Former minister Ivan Yates has said the Coalition Government's performance so far is "quite low"

The Irish Times Ipsos B&A opinion poll shows support for Fianna Fáil remains the same at 22 per cent, while support for Fine Gael is up by one to 17 per cent.

Independent Galway TD Catherine Connolly is expected to announce her intention to run for the presidency on Wednesday.

Independent Galway TD Catherine Connolly has already received the backing of the Social Democrats and People Before Profit.

Independent TD Catherine Connolly has confirmed she will launch her presidential election bid next week

The former head of the GAA said the decision not to stand had been 'one of the biggest decisions' of his life.

Mairead McGuinness has pulled out of the presidential race and said the decision was made as a result of medical advice.

Here, we have a look at the issues likely to dominate political discourse in the week to come

Former minister Mary Hanafin is to seek the Fianna Fáil nomination to contest the presidential election

Grace Boland has called for a joined-up approach to Dublin's concert transport, and said that people should not be left stranded after concerts due to a lack of public transport.

Rent pressure zones have been extended nationwide following the signing of emergency legislation into law by President Michael D Higgins.

James Browne said he was committed to enacting a ‘step change’ in his department.

Here, we have a look at the issues likely to dominate political discourse in the week to come

Fine Gael TD Catherine Callaghan has said the current debate over changes to Ireland’s triple lock needs to be grounded in facts and not misinformation

42-year-old Gareth Reid was charged with assaulting Paul McCool and causing him harm

Here, we have a look at the topics likely to dominate political discourse in the week to come.

Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael are neck and neck in the latest opinion poll

The Fine Gael MEP made headlines in 2014, as she was the first openly gay winner of the Rose of Tralee.

The Tánaiaste has written to US Secretary for Commerce Howard Lutnick on two sectors that are key to the Irish economy.

On May 22nd, 2015, the Irish electorate voted by 62 per cent in favour of same-sex marriage, on a high turnout of 61 per cent

The Mayo native, who served as a Fine Gael TD from 1977 to 1987, died on Sunday night.

The Fianna Fáil leader sits at 46 per cent, while his Fine Gael counterpart is back on 40 per cent.

The appointment was announced this morning

The former taoiseach said younger generations should not ‘be afraid’ of economic uncertainty.

The EPP Group is the largest political group in the European Parliament with 188 Members from all EU Member States.

The Sinn Féin leader questioned the need for a ‘housing tsar’, suggesting the role was effectively an ‘expensive job share’ with the Housing minister.

'Sinn Féin now has a four point and five point lead over the two main government parties which is significant'

She told the Irish Times she will not be seeking the Fine Gael nomination to replace Michael D. Higgins.