BRIAN HAYES OF Fine Gael has publicly backed Labour’s Michael D Higgins for the presidency.

Hayes, the former Fine Gael education spokesperson who backed Riichard Bruton in the summer’s leadership heave, has unexpectedly backed the Labour Party president to become president of the country.

Hayes told the Sunday Tribune that a candidate who could unify political support would be good for Ireland. “I think an agreed candidate would be good for the country” the TD for Dublin South West said.

“From all the candidates I have seen so far, I think that Michael D Higgins would do a good job and he is generally respected in the Houses of the Oireachtas as he is an outstanding parliamentarian.”

The Fine Gael nomination for the presidency is being sought by Mairéad McGuiness and Séan Kelly. Hayes said he would support a candidate like Gay Mitchell or John Bruton if they were to run.

“We need a candidate who has a standing across the parties and who has a lot of experience. One term or two term politicians don’t fall into this category” stated Hayes.

“I think that Michael D has that [stature] and he has the experience of the Dáil, the Seanad and the cabinet which will be a help to him if he is either nominated or elected to the role of president.”

In the midweek TV3/Millward Brown poll, Higgins was at 8% support, tied with Fergus Finlay on second behind the  frontrunner David Norris oin 20%.