A growing number of local councils have confirmed plans to host special meetings for aspiring presidential candidates seeking nominations to appear on the election ballot, reports RTE.
Tipperary County Council revealed that ten individuals have reached out in pursuit of a nomination.
At the special session, prospective candidates will be allowed to present a five-minute outline of their manifestos, followed by a ten-minute Q&A session.
Kerry County Council has also received approaches from ten hopefuls. Each of them will be given an opportunity to make their case in person.
The council will then deliberate on whether or not to put forward a nominee for the Presidential Election before settling on a candidate, reports RTE.
To secure a place on the ballot, a candidate must obtain support from at least four local authorities.
Dublin City Council and Kildare County Council have already tentatively scheduled meetings, though these won’t be officially confirmed until the election date is announced, reports RTE.
That announcement will come once Housing Minister James Browne signs the Presidential Election Order, which will set both the polling date and the nomination deadline.
Mr Browne is expected to finalize the order next week, paving the way for a possible election in late October.
Tipperary County Council received expressions of interest from: Dominick Plant, Gareth Sheridan, Cora Stack, Joseph Chikelue Obe, Nick Delahanty, Sarah Louise Mulligan, Cabdi Ní Chianáin (Charlotte Keenan), Paudie Dineen, Barry Wheely-Row, and Lorna McCormack, reports RTE.
Kerry County Council’s full list includes: Keith Mc Crory, Joseph Chikelue Obe, Domnick Plant, Barry Wheely – Row, Conor O’Brien, Nick Delehanty, Paudie O Dúinnin, Cora M Stack, Searlait Ni Chiannain, and Gareth Sheridan.
In the meantime, Public Expenditure Minister Jack Chambers said Fianna Fáil has been clear that it will outline its stance by the end of the month, reports RTE.
He noted that further discussions among the parliamentary party would take place in the coming days, following the Taoiseach’s assurance that Fianna Fáil would “make a contribution to the campaign”.
While there has been much speculation about who may or may not be interested in running, the minister declined to say who he would personally support, reports RTE.
Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht Dara Calleary pointed out that Fianna Fáil has a strong history of selecting presidential candidates who earned the public’s trust and served successfully.
He added that he was content to wait for the outcome of the parliamentary party’s ongoing talks regarding the presidential race, reports RTE.
Separately, it’s believed that former Labour junior minister Joe Costello has been approached to advise Catherine Connolly’s campaign team and is expected to meet with them soon.
Mr Costello previously served as campaign director for Michael D Higgins during his victorious 2011 presidential campaign, reports RTE.
Tell us your thoughts in the Facebook post and share this with your friends.
