TRINITY COLLEGE Senator David Norris is scheduled to meet a group of Independent TDs and Senators in Leinster House at lunchtime today to discuss the presidential election.
The surprise move comes ahead of an expected appearance on RTÉ's Late Late Showtomorrow night where he will be asked about his presidential ambitions.
On August 2nd, Mr Norris announced his withdrawal from the race following publication of a controversial letter he wrote seeking clemency from an Israeli court for a former partner facing a charge of statutory rape.
Independent TD for Dublin North Central Finian McGrath said Independent candidate Mary Davis would also meet separately with the group and possibly also the director of the Trócaire charity Justin Kilcullen.
Mr McGrath previously withdrew his support for the Norris campaign and he said last night this position had not changed. But he had acceded to a request on behalf of Mr Norris for today’s meeting.
“The Independent members of the Oireachtas have agreed to meet any Independent presidential candidate or potential candidate. The idea is to ensure everybody gets a fair hearing,” he said.
The meeting with Ms Davis is set for 12.15pm, Mr Norris is next at 12.30 with Mr Kilcullen scheduled for 12.45.
About two dozen TDs and Senators have been invited and Mr McGrath said he expected an attendance of about half that.
In other developments, Fianna Fáil Senator Labhrás Ó Murchú said he had been approached by a number of Oireachtas members from inside and outside the party to run as an Independent candidate and that he was “considering” the matter.
A meeting of the parliamentary party has been called at short notice for 1pm today where the presidency is expected to be discussed.
Fianna Fáil MEP Liam Aylward said in Brussels yesterday that the party should have stood in the election with his MEP colleague Brian Crowley as a candidate. “I was disappointed with the decision and I didn’t agree with it.”
Meanwhile, the prospect of the North’s Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness running as a candidate has receded, according to usually reliable sources.
The choices are now believed to focus on Sinn Féin health spokesman Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin and former agriculture minister at Stormont Michelle Gildernew with the former seen as a more likely contender.
The possibility that Mr McGuinness would become a contender had aroused considerable comment in the past few days since party leader Gerry Adams announced at the Belfast ardfheis last weekend that Sinn Féin would be contesting the election. However, practical considerations are now believed to rule out Mr McGuinness.
It is understood he would have to resign as Deputy First Minister and as a Member of the Legislative Assembly at Stormont to enter the race, which may destabilise the power-sharing executive.