Mary Coughlan says she is being encouraged to contest the next General Election.

Former Tánaiste Mary Coughlan has confirmed that she is being encouraged to contest the next General Election.
But she denied claims in yesterdays Sunday Times that she had already met with senior Fianna Fail members to discuss the issue.
The former Tainaste said that local Fianna Fáil party members are encouraging her to contest the next General Election, but that she has not as yet made up her mind on the matter.
But Mary Coughlan denied that she has had any official discussions with Fianna Fáil on the matter, referring to an article published over the weekend in the Sunday Times which said she had met with the chairman of Fianna Fáil Comhairle Ceantair (Coor-la Canter) on the matter.
She said that the Comhairle meeting is in fact scheduled for Friday in Killybegs.
Bu she did say that she was coming under pressure from local party members to stand, but said she had not received any official approach from party HQ about standing for the party.
Coughlan said she is considering the matter, but has not decided yet whether to put her name forward at the party convention at Easter.