Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin has said that Ryan Tubridy would be “very welcome” to come into politics – but stopped short of saying the door was open to the broadcaster at his party.
It comes as the former RTÉ presenter indicated his desire to pursue a political career at an event last week, saying he “dreams” of winning a seat in the Dáil.
However, in response to his comments, Mr Martin said he always dreamed of “winning an All-Ireland with Cork”.
The former Late Late Show host said he is “fascinated” by politics and “Fianna Fáil” as a party.
Mr Tubridy, who left RTÉ after it emerged that the national broadcaster had made underdeclared payments to him, has strong links to Fianna Fáil.
His grandfather, Sean Tubridy, served as a TD in Galway, while his mother’s family has links to MEP Barry Andrews.
Mr Tubridy’s comments were first reported in the Connacht Tribune.
They reported that he said at an event last week: “This bloody politics is coursing through my veins.
“I’ve got Andrews on one hand and Tubridy on the other. It’s unavoidable. I’m fascinated by politics, fascinated by public service and fascinated by Fianna Fáil as a political party, the ups and downs, the slings and arrows.
“Some people go to the sporting ground and watch football. I follow politics.
“Every night of my life I go to bed dreaming, ‘some day’,” in reference to reclaiming his grandfather’s seat in Galway.
Asked about his comments at the opening of the new Gaelscoil Eois building in Clones, Co Monaghan on Friday, Mr Martin said: “I always dreamed I’d win an All-Ireland with Cork. We all dream.
“I don’t mean that now disparagingly, but I don’t know the context in which Ryan said that. He’d be very welcome to come into politics.
“I’ve always encouraged young people to participate in politics and people generally saying we need more people engaged in politics and participating.
“I don’t know whether he was serious about that or not, but I do know he’s very conscious of his heritage and he’s very conscious of his family background, which has been a very distinguished one.
“His grandfather Sean Tubridy was a very distinguished founding member of Fianna Fáil and TD at the very start of the party, from 1926, he would have been a member and then elected in subsequent general elections, and was a GP as well, and a person of considerable esteem.”
Mr Martin also made reference to the presenter’s family links to Mr Andrews.
“He has the DNA. He has the interest because I’ve read his books on John F Kennedy and on the Kennedy family, and of course he’s always had an interest in current affairs. So, yeah, I mean, up to Ryan,” he added.
Asked if he would be welcome in Fianna Fáil, Mr Martin said: “It’s up to himself if he wants to come.”