TD attempts to form Independent group to nominate presidential candidate

Independent Roscommon–Galway TD Michael Fitzmaurice is attempting to form a group of 20 TDs and Senators to facilitate the entry into the race of a candidate, claiming the main political parties have “stymied” the process of electing a President.

In order to get on the presidential ballot paper, a candidate needs the support of four county councils or 20 members of the Oireachtas. Mr Fitzmaurice says it is incumbent on the Independents to facilitate a candidate wishing to run for the presidency through the process of giving them a signature.

“This doesn’t mean that they have to be endorsing them, going out canvassing for them, but I think the process at the moment is very tough for those expressing an interest,” he told RTÉ’s Morning Ireland.

“Are we going to sit on our hands when there is 39-40 that would be in a position to give a signature and that would help at least one person?”

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The Galway-Roscommon TD said he sent an email a month ago to other Independents to which he had received 19 responses. “This is an opportunity to show what Independents can do compared with the way the parties have stymied the whole system.”

Mr Fitzmaurice said that the 19 who responded saying they’d be willing to give a signature, have not said who they would be supporting. “Maybe some of those people may not enter this process, but I want to nail it one way or the other.

“When the Dáil is back, we could have a meeting and meet the candidates for ten minutes, go forward to make sure that we use our democratic process to facilitate somebody in the whole process.

So far several people have expressed an interest in seeking a nomination, including Senators Joan Freeman and Pádraig Ó Céidigh, artist and former television presenter Kevin Sharkey, businessman Gavin Duffy and journalist Gemma O’Doherty.

Mr Fitzmaurice said he is not supporting any particular candidate. “If you look at democracy it is open to everybody to express their opinion, we don’t know how many are intent on running because there is talk that more people may be coming into the field.

“Over the last few weeks some people talked about it, but moved away from it so let’s nail it down in the next few weeks and see what happens.

“Every TD has had phone calls or maybe someone meeting up with them, but it’s early days yet, there’s a lot of water to go under the bridge and let’s see what happens in the next fortnight.”

Mr Fitzmaurice is appealing for more backing for his plan from non-aligned TDs and Senators. However, some of those - such as TDs Michael Collins and Michael Harty - have already declared their support for Joan Freeman, the Pieta House founder.