Individual councillors at six local authorities to back Gallagher for president

Councillors at six local authorities have indicated they will propose a nomination for Sean Gallagher for the presidency should the businessman enter the race for Áras an Uachtaráin.

In order to appear on the ballot paper, prospective candidate for the presidency must be nominated by at least 20 members of the Oireachtas or by at least four local authorities.

Local authorities will meet next month to hear presentations from prospective candidates, after which councillors will vote for one candidate which the council will collectively nominate for the presidency.

Fine Gael councillor John McCartin of Leitrim County Council; Fianna Fáil councillor Niall Kelleher of Kerry County Council; Independent councillor Tony Ward of Roscommon County Council; Fianna Fáil councillor Wayne Harding of Meath County Council; Independent councillor Ger Carthy of Wexford County Council; and Independent councillor Michael O’Brien of Westmeath County Council have all said they will nominate Mr Gallagher at the meetings of their respective councils.

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Mr McCartin said he would be supporting Mr Gallagher despite the decision of the Fine Gael parliamentary party to support incumbent Michael D Higgins.

"All we have is a notification from them that the parliamentary party have made a decision to support Michael D Higgins," he told The Irish Times. "I certainly haven't received anything from headquarters to tell me that I can't support anybody else.

“I live along the Border. I would welcome a president with a strong business background. He’s someone who understands trade and the issues along the Border here, especially coming into Brexit. It could be very useful.”

Mr Kelleher said his support was based on Mr Gallagher’s work in “highlighting the plight of subcontractors” over the past decade. “He ran in 2011 and had wide-ranging support right across the country,” he said. “He was a very popular choice.”

Mr Ward said he was involved in Mr Gallagher’s ill-fated campaign for the presidency in 2011. The businessman received “substantial” damages and an apology from RTÉ under a settlement arising from the “Tweetgate” incident during the campaign.

“I contacted him because there was media speculation to see would he run,” he said. “He still hasn’t said he’s going to run, but I’ve told him that should he decide to do so he will have my full support.”

Mr Harding, meanwhile, said he believed Mr Gallagher would enter the race. “I will be supporting him should he enter the race, which I think he will,” he said. “It’s my understanding he will enter the race.

“I think he ran excellent campaign in 2011. What happened to him was unjustified. He dealt with it with dignity, and should he be brave enough to go into what is a tough campaign again, then he deserves backing.”

Mr Carthy said he also worked with the businessman during his 2011 campaign. “I believe there’s a groundswell of support for him to enter the race,” he said. “I expect his name will be on the ballot paper and I look forward to nominating him.”

Mr O’Brien said he voted for Mr Gallagher in 2011 and praised his handling of the collapse of his campaign. “I’ve met him a good bit at events over the years,” he said. “I’ll be honoured to propose him if he puts his name forward.

“I thought what happened to him the last time was a travesty, but he handled it very well. He’s young, vibrant, and has an excellent track record in job creation. He’s also been a champion for disability rights.”