JOURNALIST Miriam O'Callaghan has announced that she will not stand in an upcoming Irish presidential election.
The RTÉ broadcaster last night rejected speculation she was preparing to make a presidential bid.
Bookmaker Boylesports had dropped its odds on Ms O'Callaghan becoming the next president following news she was to take a break from her summer chat show.
Ms O'Callaghan did not directly address the speculation until last night.
On a statement posted on Twitter, she said she would always be independent of any political party.
"Over recent years, I’ve been touched and a little embarrassed when people have approached me at charity events around the country and suggested that I should run for President," she wrote.
"Out of respect to them, and to our serving President, I have always declined to engage in those discussions.
"However, given the recent resurgence of speculation, I want to state that I will not be a candidate in an upcoming Presidential election.
"I would also like to make clear that I have always been, and will always remain, independent of any political party.
"I’m looking forward to spending the summer working on a landmark documentary about the 50th anniversary of the civil rights marches in the North and the Troubles, a place and a story that I’ve covered in depth throughout my career."