Norris fails to secure Cork nomination

Senator David Norris has failed to secure a nomination for the Presidential election from Cork County Council.

The motion to nominate the senator was defeated by 20 votes to nine, with seven abstentions, in Cork County Hall this morning.

It means the Senator, with two local authority nominations, lags behind Dana Rosemary Scallon who secured her third earlier this morning with the support of Donegal County Council.

Dana is expected to get the backing of Westmeath or Offaly councils later today to become the sixth candidate.

Senator Norris, who already draws on the support of Fingal and Laois, however still needs two other local authorities to come on board as the scrap for nominations goes down to the wire.

Councillors in Waterford are to discuss the Senator's application later today, while Kilkenny council will meet in the morning.

The deadline for submitting papers to get on the ballot paper is midday tomorrow.