Election date confirmed

The Minster for the Environment tonight signed an order confirming October 22 as the date for the Presidential election.

The Government had earlier been accused of “deliberately obstructing” the ballot by presidential hopeful Dana Rosemary Scallon because Co Councils couldn’t legally table motions to support her until the order was signed.

But a spokesman for Minster Martin Cullen said he had been precluded from putting his signature on the document until 60 days before the current presidential term ends on November 10.

“The earliest possible time to sign the order was today,” the spokesman said. “Minister Cullen returned from his constituency to sign the document in his offices in Government Buildings,”

Ms Scallon earlier failed to get the support of Fine Gael members of Mayo Co Council because of the legal loophole. Sligo Co Council later separately confirmed it wouldn’t be endorsing her candidacy.

The former Eurovision winner earlier said Minister Cullen had made it impossible for some local authorities and extremely difficult for others to give her a nomination because they couldn’t legally move a motion.

She said: “This is a ridiculous situation. The whole country knows the date of the election.

“I think it is a deliberate obstruction.

“It just seems that the political establishment wants to hold onto the presidency at any cost, even though the presidency belongs to the people of Ireland.”

Ms Scallon needs the support of four Co Councils and is now focusing her sights on Clare, Leitrim, Galway and Kerry County Councils.

She secured the approval of six local authorities in her unsuccessful campaign for the Aras in 1997.

Meanwhile President Mary McAleese has convened a press conference for tomorrow morning when she is expected to nominate herself for a second seven-year term.

Earlier, the battle for the presidency gained momentum as two other contenders confirmed they were set to challenge Mrs McAleese.

But as a born-again Christian and a Green Party TD dramatically threw their hats into the ring, speculation mounted that their chances of securing enough backing to join the race were slim.

All candidates need the backing of four county councils or 20 members of the Oireachtas before they can stand.

A Green Party spokesman admitted it would be a “difficult task” to get 20 signatures in support of Dublin South TD Eamonn Ryan.

“It’s not going to be easy but we believe people should have a choice,” the spokesman said.

“If there is an election, it is crucial the public are offered different options so as to make an informed decision.”

In light of Fine Gael and Labour’s recent coalition, Green party support could only strengthen their potential as an alternative Government.

If Labour announce, as expected, it will not be running a candidate, all three parties could be free to back Mr Ryan.

This in turn would damage the chances of Ms Scallon, who ended weeks of speculation when she confirmed she had written to every county council seeking their backing.

“As an independent with limited resources you fight as hard as you can to make sure the establishment does not control everything,” she said. “I will re-mortgage my house if I have to.”

Meanwhile, independent TD Finian McGrath confirmed he was talking to two potential candidates.

“One is very serious but all I can confirm at the moment is that he’s a member of the Oireachtas,” he said.

“There are talks going on between independent TDs and Senators.”

Kevin Lee, a 69-year-old from Sligo, is also seeking nomination. The retired care-giver and Christian radical said he was frustrated to arrive back in Ireland after 15 years in Arizona and be greeted by what he termed “endless political scandal“.

“I believe in giving people a choice,” he said. “Choice to me is about value and values are about moral and ethical behaviour.

“There is a negative attitude out there that this election is not going to happen and that Mary McAleese is unbeatable and that’s nonsense.”

The Labour party will discuss the possibility of putting forward a candidate at its parliamentary meeting in Wexford this week. The decision will be announced on Thursday.

The closing date for all nominations is October 1.