'Sour taste' for some Fianna Fáil TDs in 'very, very tight' vote for presidential candidate

Jim Gavin has 32 public declarations of support from within the party, while Billy Kelleher has seven

There is also suspicion that some people who have declared for Jim Gavin (right) did so as they did not want to be seen to be actively rejecting Taoiseach Micheál Martin’s (left) preferred candidate. File picture: Stephen Collins/Collins Photos

The vote between Fianna Fáil presidential election hopefuls Billy Kelleher and Jim Gavin could end up being “very, very tight” as attention turns to those who have not declared for a candidate.

The Fianna Fáil parliamentary party will meet in Leinster House from 11:30am on Tuesday morning to hear the Cork MEP and the former Dublin GAA boss pitch for the presidency.

Both men will present for 10 minutes, with votes expected to be counted and results declared by the afternoon.

Mr Gavin has 32 public declarations of support, while Mr Kelleher has seven. There are 71 members of the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party. Sources close to Mr Kelleher suggested that many of the undeclared politicians will side with Mr Gavin.

However, they also contended that there are around 10 politicians who could vote either way. “Anyone who is not declaring is doing so for a reason,” one source said.

There is what one source described as a 'sour taste' in some politicians’ mouths as they believe some allies of Billy Kelleher (pictured) were 'cajoled' into supporting Mr Gavin. 

There is also what one source described as a “sour taste” in some politicians’ mouths as they believe some allies of Mr Kelleher were “cajoled” into supporting Mr Gavin. 

There is also suspicion that some people who have declared for Mr Gavin will not end up voting for him. Several people in the Gavin camp also believe this is likely to be the case, as some politicians did not want to be seen to be actively rejecting Taoiseach Micheál Martin’s preferred candidate.

“There’s around 10 people we just don’t know what they’ll do in the ballot box,” one source said. “If they all slip one way, it could be very, very tight.”

Those backing Mr Gavin were also anticipating a tighter competition than expected. One Fianna Fáil TD who has openly backed the former Dubs boss said it has been a “very healthy process”.

They conceded several politicians who declared for Mr Gavin will not follow through, but argued that that number will be “very small”.

One source stated that Mr Kelleher would need all the undecided politicians to “break for him”, adding that if that happened, Mr Kelleher would win.

Fine Gael

Meanwhile, Tánaiste Simon Harris said that it is "utter nonsense" to suggest Fine Gael is being anti-democratic by whipping its councillors to oppose independent nominations.

Speaking at his party's think-in in Mullingar, Mr Harris accused Elon Musk of attempting to spread misinformation after the tech billionaire accused the Fine Gael leader of "tyrannically blocking the will of the people of Ireland" and added "Conor McGregor for President to save Ireland".

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Mr Harris said: “This is balderdash and it's the latest attempt at disinformation and misinformation which I see Elon Musk joined in.

"Sure, why not? Back a man who has been found civilly liable for rape in our courts as a man he believed should be President of Ireland.

"He might have his say about who was President United States of America, but he's no say in terms of who the President of Ireland is.”