Conservative campaigner Maria Steen’s route to getting nominations from TDs and Senators to appear on the presidential election ballot paper is narrowing.
Ten Oireachtas members are said to have given commitments to nominate Ms Steen to enter the election.
However, aspiring candidates need the support of 20 Oireachtas members or four local authorities to get on the ballot paper for next month’s election.
Independent Dublin Bay North TD Barry Heneghan confirmed on Friday he will not nominate Ms Steen.
READ MORE
He said he is “leaning towards” supporting left-wing Independent candidate Catherine Connolly but will not make a final decision on that until next week.
His reason for not facilitating Ms Steen is her “conservative views” including her opposition to same-sex marriage.
Independent senator Gerard Craughwell also ruled himself out saying: “I don’t believe that I would be in a position to support Maria. I wish her well.”
Independent Senator Michael McDowell is also thought to be very unlikely to back Ms Steen and it is understood that Senator Tom Clonan is not likely to nominate her.
Ms Steen has been seeking nominations through both the Oireachtas and council routes.
Ten TDs and Senators are said to have offered commitments to nominate her after a meeting on Thursday where a group of Oireachtas members heard from a number of presidential hopefuls.
Barrister Ms Steen was part of the successful campaign last year against the failed family and care referendums. She previously campaigned against same sex marriage and repealing the Eighth Amendment on abortion.
She thanked Oireachtas members backing her to enter the race, saying: “Many of them may not share all my views, but they are true democrats, and they believe that the Irish people should have a choice other than an establishment candidate.”
She said she would “continue working hard to try to attain the other 10 votes necessary to get into the magic number of 20.”
If that happens she will stand down from seeking council nominations.
Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín has been pushing for a caucus of Oireachtas members to come together to nominate a candidate.
Ms Steen was among four potential presidential candidates that made presentations seeking support from 10 Oireachtas members that met on Thursday.
That evening Mr Tóibín named eight of the 10 who have committed to nominating Ms Steen as: himself; party colleagues deputy Paul Lawless and Senator Sarah O’Reilly; Independent TDs Mattie McGrath and Carol Nolan; and Senators Joe Conway, Ronán Mullen and Sharon Keogan.
He said another two have given a commitment but they have to talk to their teams and “they’ll come out in the next couple of days”.
On Friday Dublin Mid-West TD Paul Gogarty revealed he had also attended the meeting and appears to be among the 10 Oireachtas members that Ms Steen’s supporters say have made a commitment to facilitate her nomination.
He told The Irish Times he would have been “happy” to nominate Ms Connolly “but I was not asked” and he remained “open to nominating any credible Independent candidate to enter the race who can engage with citizens and other candidates in a constructive and respectful way”.
Mr Gogarty said “if a scenario arises where one candidate is close to getting a nomination, but has been unable to get to 20 signatures, then I would facilitate their nomination, irrespective of whether I would personally vote for them or not.”
He said this would be “purely in the interests of enhancing the democratic process and giving Irish citizens the widest possible choice.”
Later he told RTÉ Radio he had attended the meeting organised by Mr Tóibín and he told the candidates there including Ms Steen that if they were in a position where they “need a vote or two” to reach 20 Oireachtas members he would add his nomination.
There are 20 other Independent TDs and Senators in the Oireachtas and further four nominations potentially up for grabs from Independent Ireland.
However, many of the independents have come out in support of rival candidates in the presidential election.
Independent Ministers Michael Healy-Rae, Noel Grealish and Seán Canney have expressed support for Fine Gael’s candidate Heather Humphreys.
TDs Seamus Healy, Brian Stanley and 100% Redress Party deputy Charles Ward are backing left-wing Independent Catherine Connolly as is Senator Eileen Flynn.
Independent Ireland has said it will potentially facilitate a candidate getting on the ballot paper if they have 16 other nominations.
Its leader Michael Collins expressed scepticism on Friday that any presidential candidate would meet that threshold.
He told The Irish Times: “We have been very clear from the word go that if a candidate has 16 other votes and come to us and are in line with our principles we will give serious consideration in giving the other four votes which will bring them across the line.
“I don’t think personally that any candidate can get anywhere near that.”
Kerry Independent Danny Healy-Rae told RTÉ Radio he will decide if he is backing a candidate “closer to the time” of next month’s election.
He said he would “consider” supporting Ms Steen but: “I’m not saying I’ll support her yet.”
