Confusing scenes as Kildare politicians don't get to vote on presidential nomination

There were some confusing scenes at a Kildare County Council meeting yesterday afternoon (September 22), which was specially called to consider whether to nominate a candidate for the forthcoming presidential election, to take place on October 24.

Just one candidate’s name - Dublin woman Maria Steen - was due to come before the meeting, which had a scheduled starting time of 2pm (with the regular monthly meeting to follow an hour later).

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Ms Steen was nominated by Newbridge independent councillor Tom McDonnell.

However, when the meeting started the Newbridge politician was not in the council chamber and the motion fell.

A matter of perhaps two minutes later, Cllr McDonnell walked into the chamber to be told that his bid had failed because he was not present to table the proposal.

He made no response, though he told this reporter afterwards that he was frustrated because he felt he was only marginally late for the start of the meeting.

Fellow Newbridge councillor Noel Heavey (FF) told the Leinster Leader he signed the nomination paper to allow Ms Steen’s name to go before the councillors. 

He was present for the start of the meeting.

But he said that while he signed the paper, he would not be supporting her candidacy because Fianna Fáil had already chosen Jim Gavin to run for the party.

Equally, Cllr Brian O'Loughlin (FF) said he was happy to sign the nomination form for Ms Steen - without actually supporting her.

"I had no objection to letting her name go forward and to let the full KCC meeting decide, because there would have been a vote," he said.

But, Cllr O'Loughlin stressed that he did say at the time he signed the paper that he would not be voting for Ms Steen.

It is unlikely that Ms Steen would have won the nomination to add to the support of a dozen other councils that she had already secured - had the idea been voted on.

This is because Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael councillors between them hold more than half of the forty seats on KCC and would likely have supported their respective party runners by not supporting, or voting against any other nomination.

According to rules, prospective candidates must have the support of 20 city or council councils - or, alternatively, the backing of 20 members of the Oireachtas.

Ms Steen has been described as a conservative candidate.

A qualified barrister, she was part of the successful campaigns against the failed Family and Care referendums in 2024.

Nominations for candidates close on September 24.