LAST UPDATE | 6 Sep

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.

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. 

Councils can back one candidate each. A vote is carried out by councillors, and the candidate with the largest amount of votes will be given the council’s nomination. 

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.

In an opinion piece penned today in the Irish Independent, presidential hopeful Maria Steen criticised the “political manoeuvre of breathtaking cynicism” from the Tánaiste in issuing the diktat, and said it did little to show his confidence in Fine Gael’s candidate. 

The first council meeting to discern who will get its backing is Kerry County Council, who will hold a meeting on Monday. Twenty potential candidates are expected to be heard from during the meeting.