Presidential hopefuls expect at least three non-party candidates to contest election
It is understood that former RTÉ meteorologist Joanna Donnelly was not on the list of presidential candidates expected to present to Kerry County Council next Monday. File photo: Moya Nolan
Independent presidential hopefuls believe that three or four non-party candidates could end up on the ballot paper.
Councils will start to hear from independent candidates on Monday with as many as 15 expected to present to some local authorities.
Independent candidates who have announced their intention to seek a nomination include Gareth Sheridan, Nick Delehanty, Joanna Donnelly, Peter Casey and Maria Steen.
To secure a presidential election nomination, a candidate must be nominated by 20 Oireachtas members or four county councils.
Despite Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael having a majority on most county councils, those in the independent camps believe there is still a pathway for their candidates to run in October 24’s election.
One source told the they believe that there will be three or four independent candidates on the ballot paper.
They argued that councillors in Government parties have indicated to candidates that they are willing “not to obstruct” them and are “happy to allow the process” to proceed to enable independents to contest.
It had been expected that Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil councillors would vote against other candidates who would seek to present to councils.
One of the first hearings will be held by Kerry County Council next Monday. There are at least 11 people on the list to present. However, there is a growing belief that not all these people are genuine candidates.
It is understood that former RTÉ meteorologist Joanna Donnelly was not on the list as of Wednesday evening.
The deadline to present to Dublin City Council is Friday, with at least 15 people expected to put their case forward. There was an expectation that former MMA fighter Conor McGregor may appear, but his name was not on the list on Thursday.
While the nomination period will remain open until September 24, there is a growing belief that the majority of candidates will know their fate by the time the National Ploughing Championships start on September 16.
Meanwhile, justice minister Jim O’Callaghan has said he opted to back Jim Gavin to be the Fianna Fáil presidential nominee as he believed he would have a better chance of winning the election than Cork MEP Billy Kelleher.
Mr O’Callaghan said it was an “extremely difficult” decision to decide who to back, while adding he had not come under pressure from Taoiseach Micheál Martin to back Mr Gavin.
“Having spoken to both of them, I just thought that because of Jim Gavin’s association in Dublin, his achievements in terms of the GAA in Dublin and within Óglaigh na hÉireann, I thought – and listen I could be wrong about this – he had a better chance of wining than Billy,” Mr O’Callaghan said.
Put to him that Mr Gavin has little experience in politics and debates, Mr O’Callaghan said it was correct.
“I could be back here after the election and would have to admit ‘I got that wrong, I went for Jim Gavin, I should have gone for the experienced guy Billy Kelleher who’s been through this process’,” Mr O’Callaghan said.
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