LABOUR’S PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE Michael D Higgins has told his party’s councillors sitting on Dublin City Council that they should not obstruct the entrance of David Norris into the race.
Norris needs the support of Dublin City Council (DCC) in order to get on the ballot paper having already secured the backing of three other local authorities in Fingal, Laois and Waterford City.
In a meeting to be held at 6.45pm this evening, DCC councillors are expected to vote on a motion to nominate the independent senator.
The council consists of 19 Labour Party, 12 Fine Gael, six Fianna Fáil, seven independents, five Sinn Féin and two People Before Profit members.
If the motion passes, Norris will have the required support from four local authorities to ensure he is on the ballot paper for the 27 October election.
In statement released this evening Higgins said:
Given the prevailing circumstances and bearing in mind that I have consistently described the nomination criteria for the Presidency as outdated and in need of review, I believe they should not seek to obstruct the entrance of David Norris as a candidate into the field.
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