Presidential hopefuls fail to get nominated in Mayo

Members of Mayo County Council have opted not to nominate an Independent candidate for the upcoming Presidential election.

At their monthly meeting in Castlebar yesterday (Monday), councillors were asked to consider written requests from more than a dozen individuals who were seeking a nomination to run for President. Candidates must receive the support of at least four county councils or 20 Oireachtas members to get on the ballot paper. 

The council's Head of Corporate Development and Communications Martina Hughes told the meeting that candidates had been asked to make 900-word submissions and these had been provided to councillors earlier that morning. Some of the candidates who had made submissions were also in attendance at the meeting. The most high-profile prospective candidate, MLA fighter Conor McGregor, did not make a submission and was not in attendance.

Fianna Fáil Cllr Damian Ryan said it was only now that awareness was building around the presidential election but that he had received “no contact personally from any candidate". He added that if there was a candidate with a Mayo connection they would have to give more consideration, but he believed that on this occasion the council should not nominate an Independent candidate. 

Party colleague Cllr Al McDonnell said he was also not contacted by any candidate so he had "no decision to make".

However, Cllr Brendan Mulroy said a precedent had been previously set for candidates to come in and address the chamber.

"I have received one or two personal requests from candidates to come in here and address us. I have no difficulty with what people have to say. At the end of the day a vote will be taken. So I am happy to listen to what they have to say but also have no difficulty with whatever is agreed. I feel it would be wrong not to let these people come in if they want to make a presentation."

Aontú Cllr Deirdre Lawless said she thought it was important for the council to nominate a presidential candidate and give the electorate a wider choice. 

“We all know the publicly confirmed candidates but a lot of the general public don’t feel represented so I feel it is very important we use our power here to vote. I also think Simon Harris’ direction to the Fine Gael party not to [nominate Independent candidates] is undemocratic and it blocks independent candidates form this process.” 

Cllr Lawless then formally proposed one of the Independent candidates, Maria Steen, and she was seconded by Independent Ireland's Cllr Chris Maxwell. However, there was no other comments from members prompting Cllr Mulroy to again ask for support for his proposal to let the candidates address the meeting.

“My proposal was about democracy. If people take time out to write to us and ask to present here, they should be given due process and make their pitches to us. I know people in here have their own beliefs. My proposal is either we have them all in or none in.” 

Following another sustained silence, Martina Hughes called a vote on the sole nominee, Maria Steen, which was defeated 19-5 with two abstentions. The five councillors who voted in favour of Ms Steen's nomination were Independents Joe Faughnan and Michael Kilcoyne, Cllr Lawless, Cllr Maxwell and Sinn Féin's Gerry Murray. All of the Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael councillors opposed the nomination.