AS SINN FÉIN and Fianna Fáil continue to keep us guessing about what their plans are for the upcoming presidential election, the other candidates in the race had a busy day on the campaign trail today.

Catherine Connolly, the Independent candidate who so far has the backing of Labour, the Social Democrats, People Before Profit and a handful of Independent Oireachtas members, appeared outside Leinster House earlier today to lend her support to protesting Oireachtas staff.

Speaking to the media briefly, Connolly was asked if she has had any further engagement with Sinn Féin about their plans for the election.

Connolly said she has had “as little or as much” contact with Sinn Féin as she has had with other parties.

“It’s taking a bit longer [for Sinn Féin to come to a decision] than I’d hoped, but that’s the process and I respect that,” Connolly said.

She added that, on the ground, the feedback from ordinary members of Sinn Féin has been “very positive”.

It’s understood Sinn Féin will announce its intentions in mid to late September.

Elsewhere, speculation remains rife over what approach Fianna Fáil will take.

The latest name to be circulated this week is that of former Dublin GAA boss, Jim Gavin, who is tipped to be Micheál Martin’s choice for the Fianna Fáil nomination.

You can read our profile of Jim Gavin, the man who “fixed football” here. 

Whether Gavin has any interest in the role remains to be seen, but there might yet still be an internal contest for the Fianna Fáil nomination, with MEP Billy Kelleher today refusing to rule out running himself.

Speaking on RTÉ Radio One’s Claire Byrne programme this morning, Kelleher said he has been approached by party colleagues about running, but he has not given it any thought.

Jim Gavin Sam Boal / Rollingnews.ie Sam Boal / Rollingnews.ie / Rollingnews.ie

Despite recent reports floating former Fianna Fáil leader and taoiseach Bertie Ahern’s name as the possible Fianna Fáil candidate, the understanding remains that this would be strongly opposed by Micheál Martin and the Fianna Fáil leadership.

A Fianna Fáil parliamentary party meeting is expected to take place next week, where the Taoiseach is expected to set out his thinking about the party’s options.

However, similar to Sinn Féin, Fianna Fáil is not expected to announce its candidate until later in September.

Elsewhere today, Independent Áras hopeful Nick Delehanty launched his campaign in a virtual golf course in Dublin earlier.

“I’m not a man of means, I’m not a tycoon, I’m not a millionaire of any sorts,” Delehanty stressed during the press conference, in a not-so-subtle reference to the other 35-year-old Áras hopeful, millionaire Gareth Sheridan.

Sheridan, who is also trying to get his name on the ballot via the local authorities route, appealed to councillors today not to block independent candidates, arguing it would set a “dangerous precedent”.

The former CEO of US-based company Nutriband, who launched his campaign for the presidency earlier this month, appeared on Virgin Media’s Ireland AM this morning, where he said he has been meeting with councillors, particularly independents, since the start of the year.

And finally, Fine Gael members are still deciding whether to give their support to Heather Humphreys or Seán Kelly.

Although Humphreys looks guaranteed to get the nomination at this stage, Kelly has yet to rule himself out of the race.