TD says election ruling an obstacle

Independent TD Mr Finian McGrath told the High Court yesterday that regulations brought in early last year requiring non-party…

Independent TD Mr Finian McGrath told the High Court yesterday that regulations brought in early last year requiring non-party candidates to have 30 "assentors" before they can stand in a general election have put another obstacle in their way.

Mr McGrath was giving evidence on the second day of an action challenging the constitutionality of the regulations which has been taken by three people who went seeking nominations to stand as independents in the 2002 general election.

Two of them - Mr William Stack, Brookfield Terrace, Blackrock, Dublin, and Mr Benedict Cooney, McCormack's Complex, Dublin Road, Athlone - were unable to get 30 assentors and could not go forward for election. The third, Mr Thomas King, The Curragh, Castlebar, succeeded in securing 30 assentors but was not elected. The requirement to have 30 assentors was brought in under the Electoral Regulations, 2002.

Assentors must not only sign nomination papers but must also present themselves at the relevant local authority offices.

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The new regulations came in following a High Court decision that the necessity for independent candidates to pay deposits was unconstitutional. Mr McGrath, who represents Dublin North Central, said he was elected in last year's general election but had been a full-time representative since 1999.

When he heard of the new regulations last year, he felt they were part of the major political party system making it difficult and awkward for independents to stand for election.

The hearing, before Mr Justice Kearns, continues today.