Gareth Sheridan defends ties to controversial senator and links to Israel in bruising press conference

Pharma company founder, who has a net worth of over €13m, argued his success should not be used against him in the presidential race

Presidential candidate Gareth Sheridan and his wife Heidi at the official launch of his campaign at the Shelbourne Hotel in Dublin on Thursday.

Presidential election hopeful Gareth Sheridan was forced to defend a $25,000 fine, ties to senator Sharon Keogan, and links to an Israeli hospital in a bruising first press conference since announcing his bid.

The 35-year-old founder of pharma company Nutriband, who has a net worth of over €13m, argued his success should not be used against him in the presidential race.

Mr Sheridan said he was “confident that we have a path to a nomination with proposers and seconders and at least six councils”, including Tipperary and Laois.

To get on the ballot paper for the presidential election, a candidate must have the backing of 20 Oireachtas members, or four local authorities.

Independent Sharon Keogan, who has been criticised for comments on immigration, LGBT+ issues, and surrogacy, has helped Mr Sheridan meet councillors.

In a Virgin Media interview, he distanced himself from some of her comments.

At his press conference, he said Ms Keogan had a “very strong influence among independent councillors in the country”, and saying they were actually introduced by an independent councillor.

Mr Sheridan also addressed a report in the Irish Examiner that his mother had objected to a housing development, citing concerns about social housing, at the “behest” of her employer, who was behind the project.

He denied this undermined his message on the housing crisis, adding his mother grew up in social housing.

“The Nutriband journey […] was by no means a fairytale journey,” he said.

“I've made the phone calls home asking for help with rent. I understand the value of a euro. I'll never take that for granted because I didn't have it at one point.

“I think we have to be careful that we don't get into a position that if an entrepreneur who's aspiring in this country makes a success out of an idea that they have, that all of a sudden, it's a negative.”

He further confirmed he was worth $15.5m (€13.3m). This includes $15m in Nutriband shares and $500,000 in cash. He said he would use his savings to fund his campaign.

In relation to the ,000 fine levied at him by the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), he argued it followed an “honest mistake” and he and the company “paid our dues and moved on”.

The company had said a product did not need approval from the FDA in filings to the SEC.

He added Nutriband had “relied on people who did know the rules and regulations” but had turned out to be wrong.

Mr Sheridan also addressed reports his company had given $50,000 to an Israeli hospital training Israeli Defence Force soldiers.

The company worked with two doctors who “developed a device that liquefied tablets for people who couldn't swallow”. He said the project was “shelved”.

He said he would have “no issue whatsoever” about the prospect of signing the Occupied Territories Bill into law if he was president, adding what was happening in Palestine the “utmost banality of evil”.

Mr Sheridan described immigration as a “tricky subject”, but said Ireland did not have an immigration problem, and there was a problem with the system.

He also confirmed he was against Government proposals to amend the Triple Lock.