TDs and Senators set to nominate one agreed candidate for Presidential race

Presidential hopefuls struggling to win county council support are set to be thrown a contest lifeline after 17 Independent TDs and senators said they will nominate an agreed candidate - and six said they may follow suit in the coming days.

The figures were revealed tonight by unaligned Independent TD Michael Fitzmaurice, who has called for Independent Oireachtas members to join together to nominate a candidate in order to ensure the Aras race is not limited to mainstream options.