Norris secures Fingal presidential nod

SENATOR David Norris has secured the nomination of Fingal County Council in his bid become the country’s next president.

He must now secure nominations from three more local authorities in order to be eligible to run for president. He addressed Meath County Council yesterday and is due to address Wexford and Carlow County Council next month.

“I am delighted to have received the support of Fingal County Council,” he said. “Their support means that I am a quarter of the way to securing a nomination to run for the presidency of Ireland. Democracy is all about giving people choices and I believe that Fingal County Council have done just that.”

The decision by Fingal to give him its backing came as a motion at Wexford County Council to also give official support to Senator Norris was yesterday blocked for legal reasons.

Now both he and Dragon’s Den star Seán Gallagher will have to seek the support of the local authority at its next meeting on June 13.

David Norris had earlier written to Wexford County Council and all other 33 local authorities seeking support for his campaign.

The council was due to be the first to vote on the matter yesterday afternoon after a motion was tabled by Fianna Fáil councillor Malcolm Byrne.

However, Cllr Byrne’s motion was quashed after county secretary Niall McDonnell informed him the council cannot pass a resolution nominating a candidate before the presidential election order is made next September, ahead of the election in November.

In the letter to Wexford County Council, revealed at yesterday’s meeting, Senator Norris said he wanted the opportunity to make his case for its nomination.

The council’s chairman Michael Kinsella, confirmed during the same discussion that businessman Seán Gallagher — who is likely to also seek the support of Fianna Fáil members — had called him last weekend asking to speak to members for the same reason.

These attempts to gain the local authority’s backing will now take place next month, with Senator Norris having already spoken to officials from Meath County Council.

The delay in a vote on whether to support Senator Norris was criticised by Cllr Byrne, who told the meeting that “it’s not about endorsing David Norris, it’s about the right to contest”.