Laois County Council have set a date for when those seeking a nomination to run for President of Ireland can address them.
LaoisToday understands that Monday, September 15, is the day that the Council will set aside.
Laois County Council, as is the case with all councils, can only give their nomination to one candidate.
But they can also choose not to give it at all if that is what the Councillors decide.
In 2018, Laois controversially decided to nominate former investigative journalist Gemma O’Doherty though she didn’t receive the support of any other council and thus wasn’t a candidate.
On that occasion, four councillors supported Gemma O’Doherty while the remainder abstained, allowing her to receive the Laois nomination.
On that occasion, neither Fianna Fáil nor Fine Gael had a candidate themselves. Though councillors have the freedom to do what they want, those parties have 11 of the 19 councillors in Laois and do have the numbers to block a candidate if they wish.
Independent candidates in most cases aren’t asking party-affiliated councillors to vote for them, rather to abstain, which would allow them to get the support of that council.
The 2025 Irish presidential election is due to take place on October 24.
The election will determine the tenth President of Ireland and Michael D. Higgins cannot run again as he has served the maximum two terms permitted under the Constitution.
A source said: “September 15 is the day that has been chosen to hold a special meeting for Laois County Council.
“As it stands, in excess of 14 people have contacted the council officially seeking a nomination.
“We expect that number to rise. Now whether they all address the council or not on September 15 is a different thing.
“By that stage, some may either have withdrawn from the race or may have got enough nominations from elsewhere.
“Each person who comes will be allocated five minutes each to speak and then after that, they may or may not receive a proposer or a seconder.”
So who is likely to be seeking a nomination from Laois County Council? Independents.
One profile one, Peter Casey, who ran in 2018, has not as yet, we understand, officially contacted Laois County Council about a nomination.
While just last night, MMA fighter Conor McGregor is understood to have written a letter to all Councils requesting support.
Other Independents who have signalled their intention to run include solicitor Nick Delehanty, barrister Maria Steen and businessman Gareth Sheridan.
Former meteorologist with Met Eireann Joanna Donnelly, had declared but has withdrawn after just three days.
While renowned dancer Micheal Flatley also withdrew his name from consideration yesterday.
Gareth Sheridan has some level of support in Laois as Independent Councillor Aisling Moran has already publicly called for him to be on the ticket.
In order to run through this route, any of those would need to secure the support of Laois and at least three other Councils.
At present, three candidates, either have enough support or soon will to allow them to run.
Following the withdrawal of Mairead McGuinness, Heather Humphreys has received the Fine Gael nomination after her challenger Sean Kelly pulled out of the contest.
Former Dublin football manager Jim Gavin is set to be Fianna Fail’s. He is up against MEP Billy Kelleher but it is expected, as Gavin has the support of party leader Micheal Martin, that he will prevail. Fianna Fáil’s TDs, Senators and MEPs will vote by secret ballot this Tuesday.
Catherine Connolly, an Independent TD from Galway, is also confirmed to be on the ballot sheet.
She counts Laois TD Brian Stanley among a host of politicians from the left who will support her – including the Social Democrats, Labour Party and Independents. She is due to visit Portlaoise this coming Tuesday.
As regards the other parties, Sinn Fein have said they will decide if they are running a candidate or not by September 20.
Peadar Tóibín has said that Aontú would seek to create a “selection block” or a “nominating caucus” with other small parties and independents who would pick a candidate to represent them using a PR-STV vote.
The period for nomination of candidates will run from September 5 to September 24.
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