INDEPENDENT PRESIDENTIAL HOPEFULS David Norris and Dana Rosemary Scallon have been boosted by news today that at least 12 councils are to meet next week to discuss nominating them as candidates for the election next month.
With nominations closing on Wednesday at noon, the race is on for the pair to secure a place on the ballot paper via support from at least four local authorities, as is required by law.
So far, at least a dozen local authorities have confirmed they will meet next week to consider Norris and Scallon’s nominations.
There are now strong indications that both candidates will secure enough support to be on the ballot paper alongside the five candidates who have already been nominated.
Norris’s hopes of being on the ballot with the support of 20 members of the Oireachtas appeared to have faded yesterday as he secured 17 signatures but a number of TDs and senators ruled themselves out of nominating him.
Only independent TDs Shane Ross and Mattie McGrath must decide if they will nominate him but there were suggestions today that Tipperary North TD Michael Lowry may consider nominating Norris if he gets to 19 signatures.
His office could not be reached for comment this evening.
On Monday, Laois County Council will meet at 11am to discuss motions to nominate either Norris or Scallon. In Carlow, the county council will meet at 12.30pm and will also debate motions to nominate either Norris or Scallon.
In Roscommon, the county council will meet at 2.15pm to debate motions to nominate either Norris or Scallon. That evening, South Dublin County Council will meet at 5.15pm to debate a cross-party motion to nominate Norris.
It will be a busy day on Tuesday with a total of seven local authorities set to meet.
Donegal County Council will meet at 10am to debate a Fianna Fail-proposed motion to nominate Scallon. Cork County Council will meet at 11am to consider a motion to nominate Norris.
At lunchtime, Waterford City Council is to meet to debate motions to nominate either Norris or Scallon.
Longford County Council is to meet at 4pm to debate a motion to nominate Scallon. Westmeath County Council will also meet on Tuesday to debate a motion to nominate Scallon.
On Tuesday evening, Dublin City Council will meet just before 7pm to discuss a motion to nominate Norris while at 7pm Cavan County Council will debate a Fianna Fáil-proposed motion to nominate Scallon.
Finally, on Wednesday morning, Kilkenny County Council is to meet at 8.30am to debate motions to nominate either Norris or Scallon.
The deadline for nominations to be delivered to the returning officer is 12 noon that day.
Election rules indicate that a nomination paper must be delivered by the candidate or one or more of the persons making the nomination or in the case of a City or County Council by an official of the council.
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