Agriculture minister Brid Rodgers, who has been acclaimed for her handling of a difficult government portfolio, has also been touted as possible candidate, as well as South Down MP Eddie McGrady.
In the early 1990s the pair cropped up in Krzysztof Kieslowski's acclaimed Three Colours trilogy.
But Ann Sargeant, formerly of the Volunteer Centre of Toronto, now retired and waiting to see acclaimed Quebec drama Le Demantelement, sees it differently.
While the introduction of traffic light labelling for food was widely acclaimed as one of the deal's biggest successes, it is still only voluntary "and is ignored by many of the 'big food' multinationals", the letter says, adding: "The government's austerity policies have been associated with a reversal in the long-term decline in suicides".
Tessa Ross, controller of film and drama at Channel 4, who were early backers of 12 Years a Slave said: "This is a very exciting day – Steve is already acclaimed as one of the worlds' leading contemporary visual artists and is now being recognised as a truly visionary feature film-maker on the international stage".
His universally acclaimed drama 12 Years a Slave picked up nine nominations in total, including best actor for Chiwetel Ejiofor, but was pipped in the race for total nominations by American Hustle, the 70s-set con caper directed by David O Russell, and Gravity, Alfonso Cuarón's space walk thriller, which both scored 10.
Now award-winning fantasy novelist Gaiman, acclaimed cartoonist Bechdel, Maus creator Spiegelman, Reading Lolita in Tehran author Azar Nafisi and American author and journalist George Packer have been named as new hosts at the event, which PEN confirmed would have heightened security.
Nihilumbra (Free + IAP) Already critically acclaimed on PC and PlayStation Vita, this offers an absorbing take on the platform genre with a creative twist: the ability to paint' colours onto the world as you travel through it, to help you get past obstacles.
Daenerys Targaryen - the woman who emerged triumphant from a trial by fire to be acclaimed as the uncontested leader of her people.
It put on the original version of the critically acclaimed They Used to Call it the Moon exhibition, which has now moved to the bigger space over the Tyne.
It was critically acclaimed, won several awards, and earned the designer a place in the Queen's birthday honours list.
