LAST UPDATE | 15 Sep 2025

THIS WEEK IS shaping up to be a bonanza week in Irish politics with a number of local councils set to hear pitches from presidential hopefuls.

Galway City, Westmeath, Cork City, Laois, Kildare and Dublin City Councils will today hear from Independent candidates who are looking to get on the ballot paper. 

Former MMA fighter Conor McGregor – who has made multiple posts on social media in recent months saying he intended to run – announced overnight that he would not be seeking a nomination. 

He had been due to speak to councillors in Kildare and Dublin City today. 

Other presidential hopefuls who will be presenting to councillors on Monday include entrepreneur Gareth Sheridan, the Aontú-backed campaigner Maria Steen and maths lecturer Cora Stack.

Sheridan may also find out this week if he has done enough work to get a nod from the four local councils he needs to get on the ballot paper. 

He will be speaking to Laois County Council today and Tipperary County Council tomorrow, two local authorities that are understood to be key to Sheridan’s campaign. 

Having heard from Áras hopefuls last week, Kerry County Council is expected to vote this morning on who, if anyone, it will endorse in the campaign.

The road to the Áras is a narrow one for independents, as the majority of councils are dominated by Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, both of whom have their own candidates in the race.

Labour and the Social Democrats have also chosen to back Independent TD Catherine Connolly. 

Fine Gael has issued a diktat to its councillors, stating that they must oppose the nomination of any candidate that presents itself to the council.

However, Fianna Fáil has given a bit more freedom to its councillors by not imposing a directive. It is expected that some Fianna Fáil TDs might got rogue and give an independent the nod.

A candidate needs the backing of either four councils or 20 members of the Oireachtas – TDs and senators – to enter the race. 

Dáil returns after its summer hiatus

Aside from the local authority presidential pitches taking place this week, Fianna Fáil, Social Democrats and People Before Profit are set to hold their party think-ins this week. 

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Fianna Fáil parliamentary party members will meet today in Douglas in Cork today ahead of the Dáil returning after the summer break on Wednesday. 

Following her maternity leave, Social Democrats party leader Holly Cairns will be in attendance at her party think-in tomorrow in Dublin. 

As mentioned, it is back to business as usual for the Dáil this week, with the autumn term kicking off. 

Much of the focus over the next month will be on Budget 2026, which is due to take place on 7 October. Over the last few months, some of the details of the budget have already been discussed. 

Aside from the budget, the progression of the Occupied Territories Bill, the government’s new housing plan and the debate around removed the Triple Lock, are expected to take up a lot of air-time between now and Christmas.