FIANNA FÁIL’S NATIONAL Executive has decided that no party whip should apply to its councillors leaving the door open for them to nominate Independent candidates at local authority meetings.

In a meeting held this evening, the executive agreed “to request all Fianna Fáil councillors to do everything they can to support the candidacy and campaign of Fianna Fáil candidate Jim Gavin”.

Gavin won today’s secret ballot of the parliamentary party, beating out MEP Billy Kelleher. Gavin received 41 votes to Kelleher’s 29. 

Gavin is best known for his famous five-in-a-row glory with the Dublin football team between 2015 and 2019.

The request from the governing body of the party falls short of a whip being imposed on its councillors that it cannot endorse the nomination of another candidate.

While technically, no whip on its councillors leaves the door for them to support another candidate or to abstain in a vote to allow someone other than Gavin onto the presidential ticket, it is understood the “subtle request” from party headquarters will be widely understood by councillors. 

While not a directive per se, those within the party state it is a “very strong” request or “soft nudge” from the national executive to councillors that they should back the Gavin campaign, with the majority of councillors expected to fall into line. 

However, there is an acknowledgement within the party that one or two Fianna Fáil councillors might go rogue and endorse another candidate who makes a pitch to the councils. 

The local authority route to the Áras

Several independents have expressed an interest in securing a nomination through the local authority process – but this proves difficult without the support of Government councillors.

Fine Gael has instructed its councillors across the country to oppose the nomination of Independent candidates for the presidential election. 

Its position is that as the party has its own candidate in the election, former Minister Heather Humphreys, the party should collectively come behind her.

The Fine Gael leader said this week that it is an “utter nonsense” that his councillors should be expected to back anyone other than party candidate.

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“Show me the line in the Constitution that says Fine Gael must nominate its political opponents. I mean, this is balderdash and it’s the latest attempt at disinformation and misinformation.”

He said: “The Fine Gael party is backing the Fine Gael candidate. Hold the front page.”

There are two ways in which a potential candidate can secure their spot on the ballot that will be presented at polling stations on 24 October: firstly by securing at least 20 Oireachtas members’ backing, the standard way in for candidates from bigger parties, or by securing the nomination of four councils across the country.

There are a number of Independent candidates seeking the nominations of councils to become eligible to formally run in the election. Amongst these are former local and general election candidate Nick Delehanty, the barrister and campaigner Maria Steen, and businessman Gareth Sheridan.

Sheridan, who is trying to get his name on the ballot for the presidential election via support from local councillors, has said that councillors should not block Independent candidates, arguing it would be a “dangerous precedent”.