Ryan struggles for support to challenge McAleese

GREEN PARTY presidential hopeful Eamon Ryan was last night struggling to secure the support of enough independent TDs to allow him to challenge Mary McAleese for the presidency.

The latest twist in the race for Áras an Uachtaráin means it looks increasingly unlikely that Mr Ryan will be nominated to contest next month’s elections.

Despite having the support of up to 13 Labour deputies - more than enough to reach the required quota of 20 - it is understood that neither the Green Party nor Labour want to see Mr Ryan enter a presidential race in which Labour will be seen as a major stakeholder in another party’s candidate.

Apart from being unacceptable to many Green Party members, that scenario would also be seen as a step too far by Labour members who wanted to see Michael D Higgins contest the election.

Such a complication leaves Mr Ryan struggling to make up the numbers, with independent TDs and senators more reluctant than expected to nominate him.

Green Party sources indicated last night that the party would like to achieve 14 nominations before relying on Labour to make up the remaining six.

However, just three independents had last night signed up, leaving Mr Ryan with only nine nominations, including six from his own party colleagues.

Before the Green Party gathers in Clonakilty today to decide whether to contest the presidential election, Mr Ryan will have to have received the support of another five independents overnight. Failure to do so will mean the result of today’s Green Party deliberations will be a foregone conclusion and Mr Ryan will be forced to withdraw.

In a statement yesterday evening, the Green Party said confidential discussions were still taking place.

However, Green Party chairman John Gormley suggested independent nominations were not materialising quickly enough.

“It is not a forgone conclusion that we will get the necessary 20 signatures from members of the Oireachtas.

“We have not received as many independent nominations as expected, making us more dependent on Labour Party support.

“We are very grateful to the Labour Party for their promises of nominations and fully appreciate that it may prove difficult for some in Labour to be seen as major stakeholders in another party’s campaign,” he said.

Dana Rosemary Scallan is meanwhile still looking for the support of four county councils and will hear on Monday whether Kerry councillors will support her nomination.

But with the October 1 nomination deadline approaching, it is doubtful she will achieve a nomination.