WOULD-BE entrants to the presidential race are facing an uphill struggle after Fine Gael instructed its county councillors not to facilitate Independent candidates in their quest for a nomination.
Fine Gael said its advice was clear; city and county councillors were expected to support the party’s candidate, MEP Gay Mitchell, and not to facilitate any other candidate.
The party disputed a report in yesterday’s Irish Times, which said the block on Fine Gael councillors allowing the nomination of other candidates had been lifted. Fine Gael said its policy had not changed.
Earlier this year, party councillors around the country strenuously opposed attempts by Independent Senator David Norris and Dragons’ Den panellist Seán Gallagher to secure a nomination.
However, in the past 10 days, party members softened their stance. At two councils, in Sligo and Meath, Fine Gael councillors abstained while colleagues voted support for Mr Gallagher or Special Olympics organiser Mary Davis. At two other councils, in Galway county and Leitrim, some party councillors voted for the Independent candidates while others abstained.
Anyone running needs the support of 20 Oireachtas members or four county councils. Labour, which is running Michael D Higgins, and Fine Gael have sufficient numbers to nominate their own candidates. Mr Gallagher and Ms Davis are expected to reach the required support of four councils at further meetings on Monday.
A spokesman for Mr Mitchell said he was “very happy” two other candidates were going to succeed in getting their names on to the ballot sheet.
“Gay’s not afraid of any competition,” he said. “He’s very confident that Fine Gael county councillors around the country will support him, as they already have.”
Dublin Fine Gael TD Paschal Donohoe said county councillors interpreted advice from HQ in different ways and often voted in different ways. The more candidates, the more difficult it would be for any one candidate to obtain a commanding share of the first-preference vote, he pointed out.