Independent Ireland has agreed to nominate Maria Steen to enter the presidential election.
Ms Steen needs nominations from 20 Oireachtas members to contest the election. She said she was now at 17 votes out of the required 20 but earlier Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín said another TD had committed to support her, which would bring her to 18, just two shy of the target.
Elsewhere, left-leaning parties who are supporting Catherine Connolly have been reacting to her comments about Hamas being part of the fabric of Palestinian people.
Key reads
- Presidential election: Meet the three hopefuls who will be on the ballot paper next month
- Marian Harkin backs nomination of Maria Steen to contest presidential election
- Catherine Connolly denies being equivocal on Hamas, condemns genocide in Gaza
Steen ‘hopeful’ of securing backing before deadline
Conservative campaigner Maria Steen has said she is “very hopeful” she will have the required backing from 20 Oireachtas members to enter the presidential election by Wednesday’s noon deadline for nominations.
She said “good progress” was made on Tuesday telling RTÉ news: “I was at 12 this morning, and I’m now at 17 this afternoon, and I am hoping to get to 20 before the end of the evening.”
Ms Steen said: “I’m happy to take a nomination from anybody who’s willing to give it to me, and I am available to talk to everybody and meet if they would like to.”
She said there are “still a few independent senators that I haven’t yet met, and if there are other party members who are willing to break ranks, I’m more than willing to meet them too.”
Ms Steen was asked about Senator Michael McDowell who, like her, was on the successful No side in last year’s family and care referendums. She said she has not talked to him yet but added: “I’m hopeful that he will come on board.”
Ms Steen added: “We don’t agree on everything, but we actually have many things that we do agree on, so I think I’d be very grateful for his support, and we’ll see if he’ll meet me this evening and there’s still some others as well that I want to meet as well.”
She spoke about the process of lodging papers with the election returning officer by noon tomorrow and said: “ideally, I would like to make sure everything is tied down tonight. That’s what I’ll be asking everybody. Because, you know, time is running out.”
Cormac McQuinn writes:
Independent candidate Catherine Connolly - who has a surplus of nominations with the support of left wing parties and independents - indicated she will not be asking her Oireachtas supporters to nominate Ms Steen to enter the race.
Asked by The Irish Times about the possibility that she would do so to allow for greater choice for the electorate Ms Connolly said: “I wish Maria Steen the best of luck in her bid to receive the required nominations.
“However, the question of who Oireachtas members should nominate is something for them to decide and I don’t feel it would be appropriate for me to seek to influence them in this regard”.
Maria Steen’s hardest task: the final three names
The prospective Presidential candidate has to find three other names to bring her total to 20 before Noon tomorrow. And it’s already beginning to look a seismic task.
We understand that Independent ministers Seán Canney and Noel Grealish (both Heather Humphreys supporters) are sticking to their guns and won’t sign nomination papers. Neither will Gerard Craughwell.
Cue the theme music from Mission Impossible.
Who’s left on the Independent side? Michael Lowry and Kevin ‘Boxer’ Moran have been very quiet and their intentions are unknown. Lowry did say in 2011 that he would sign David Norris’ nomination papers if he had 19 names. This time around he has said nothing publicly.
Senator Aubrey McCarthy is another possibility. Other Independent senators, including Michael McDowell and Victor Boyhan, will undoubtedly be lobbied but neither have given any indication they would be minded to sign her papers.
Is there a Fianna Fáil or Fine Gael parliamentarian or two who is willing to go rogue to support her nominations? We will find out in the next 18 hours.
For the record, the last two times an Independent candidate tried to garner 20 names from non-aligned Oireachtas members (and members of smaller parties) they failed.
David Norris came close in 2011 and at one stage had gathered 18 names. But then one or two withdrew their support after he become involved in the first of a number of controversies over historical comments and actions that dogged his campaign.
In 2018, Gemma O’Doherty claimed she had the backing of 11 TDs and Senators. It was reported at that time they were: Joan Collins; Clare Daly; Mick Wallace; Tommy Broughan; Catherine Connolly; Michael Fitzmaurice; Seán Canney; Séamus Healy; Maureen O’Sullivan; Mattie McGrath and Senator Rónán Mullen.
Maria Steen profile
My colleague Ellen Coyne has written an excellent profile of Maria Steen, outlining her long-standing role as a conservative campaigner.
Connolly says IRA’s violence ‘never justified’
Cormac McQuinn writes: Independent presidential election candidate Catherine Connolly has said violence was “never justified” when asked about the IRA’s campaign in the North during the Troubles.
Ms Connolly is running for the presidency with the backing of Sinn Féin which believes the IRA’s armed campaign was justified to take on the British State.
Asked at a press conference in Dublin if she believed the IRA’s campaign in the North was justified she said: “I think violence was never justified and I say that from a position, as a mother and a pacifist.”
She also said: “We’ve had the Good Friday Agreement which was wrought out of pain and death and destruction and we have that now and we have many structures following from that with a view to a United Ireland.”
On whether she made it clear to Sinn Féin that she did not agree IRA violence was justified she said: “I am delighted that Sinn Féin have come behind me as I am delighted the Social Democrats, People Before Profit [have also supported her].
She added: “They have come behind me because of the characteristics that they see in me as the future president of Ireland.
“There have been no deals, no agreements, they have come forward to support me because they realise, and so do all of the parties that we’re at a really crucial point in our history, a point where we must use our voice for peace.
“We have absolutely nothing to gain and everything to lose by not using our voice for peace, for championing neutrality in the most proactive, positive way by being a voice that articulates the threat, the existential threat posed by climate change, a voice that recognises the invaluable work being done by communities on the ground in all range of work.
“There are many other things that I also value.
“That’s what Sinn Féin have come behind me for, as have the other parties, as have independents”
Catherine Connolly to submit nomination papers
The united left candidate Catherine Connolly will submit her nomination papers at the Custom House at 3pm.
She will be speaking to the media immediately beforehand.
Polar reactions to Catherine Connolly’s Hamas comments
The responses have divided along the left-right axis in the Dáil, with some caution in the centre and on the centre-left.
Both Sinn Féin and People Before Profit have not taken any issue with anything she said about Hamas being part of the fabric of Palestinian people, saying those views are consistent with their own. Labour and the Social Democrats have said it would not have been their choice of language.
However, Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael have condemned the remarks. Taoiseach Micheál Martin said in New York that Hamas had “broken every humanitarian law and cannot be part of Gaza’s future”.
The strongest reaction came from Fianna Fáil Minister of State Thomas Byrne with this tweet:
The post prompted this response from Paul Murphy of People Before Profit, who, like Byrne, is a prolific tweeter.
Interestingly, Catherine Connolly’s campaign video has put Gaza at the centre of its pitch. Her presidential campaign will be largely directed at a younger demographic, with strong left-leaning messaging on housing, the Irish language, disabilities neutrality and, particularly, Gaza. There is no language in it about a united Ireland even though the video was released on Monday, after Sinn Féin announced its backing for her bid.
‘True Democrats’: Maria Steen on politicians who support her nomination
Pat Leahy writes: Speaking to reporters outside the Dáil, Maria Steen said the TDs and Senators who were nominating her were “true democrats who want to give the people of Ireland an alternative voice and choice on the ballot paper”.
She said she was now at 17 votes out of the required 20 but earlier Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín said another TD had committed to support her, which would bring her to 18, just two shy of the target.
“I am hopeful that there’s enough momentum behind me now that it will maybe encourage others to come out and give me support today,” said Ms Steen.
“There is a groundswell of support out there for an alternative candidate.”
“I’m putting in calls, I’m here and I’m ready to talk to anybody who’s willing to talk again,” she said.
Asked about a call two weeks ago with the person who is posting malicious falsehoods about Fianna Fáil candidate Jim Gavin, she said: “Yeah, as you can imagine, I’ve been getting calls from lots of different people who I have never met before and have never spoken to before.
“I had a call with Kieran Kelly. He mentioned nothing about Jim Gavin or any other candidate to me. He talked about, I think, that there’s an organisation called the Wild Geese, of Irish people abroad, who are taking an interest in Irish politics.
“That was the sum total of the phone call. I listened to what he had to say, and that was it.
“I have also been seeing the problem with social media, I suppose. And one of the things that I hope I could bring to this election is to call for dignified and respectful debate and respect for others. I, too, have, you know, had hostile receptions both online and in person. It’s not nice, and you know, I’m the mother of five young children. I don’t want them to grow up in a country that is so polarised, so divided and so disrespectful to those of other beliefs. So I condemn any attempt to spread malicious rumours about anybody, and that’s all I can say about it. I don’t know anything further.”
Danny Healy-Rae supports Steen’s nomination
The number of TDs and Senators willing to sign Maria Steen’s nomination papers has risen to 17, at least, after Danny Healy-Rae disclosed he will endorse her nomination.
It means that six TDs have backed her nomination this morning. The possibility of Steen being added to the ticket has increased considerably. But it will all depend on whether or not a number of key Independents will be willing to change their minds on this issue over the next 24 hours.
Independent Ireland’s four TDS back Maria Steen presidential nomination
Cormac McQuinn writes: Independent Ireland has agreed to nominate Maria Steen to enter the presidential election.
The decision adds four TDs and a considerable boost to Ms Steen’s efforts to get on the ballot paper.
She needs nominations from 20 Oireachtas members to contest the election and currently has as many as 16.
Danny Healy-Rae is also due to announce his intentions imminently. It is expected he will also sign Steen’s nomination papers.
Ellen Coyne has details on its statement:
“Following a private meeting last night with Maria Steen, members of the Independent Ireland parliamentary party met this morning to discuss nominating Ms Steen for the presidential election.
“We were impressed by her honesty, her candour and her ability to clearly communicate her views and vision for the presidency. We were particularly struck by her determination to be a genuine voice for the people of Ireland who feel ignored and unrepresented by the political establishment.
“As elected parliamentarians, we believe it is our duty to ensure that voters are given a real choice in this election. Yet the process of securing a place on the ballot has been deliberately made more difficult by Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael at council level, which we regard as an affront to democracy itself.
“It is in that spirit, and after careful consideration, the Independent Ireland party has agreed this morning that four Independent Ireland TDs will sign Maria Steen’s nomination papers today.”
Parties backing Connolly react to Hamas comments
Left-leaning parties who are supporting Catherine Connolly have been reacting to her comments about Hamas being part of the fabric of Palestinian people.
Sinn Féin TD Matt Carthy said Hamas is “part of [the] situation in Palestine” and “there’s no doubt about that”.
He said he believes what Ms Connolly said is “consistent” with what has been said by all parties in the Oireachtas.
He said the actions of Hamas were “war crimes” and “indefensible” but so too are the actions of the Israeli Government.
Mr Carthy said “whether we like it or not” there will be “no meaningful negotiations without those two entities”.
In the last few minutes, Green Party leader Roderic O’Gorman has said: “I see Hamas as a terrorist organisation and I don’t see them as part of democratic governance of Palestine, but I think we have to keep the door open.”
Ged Nash of Labour has said her remarks in the BBC interview were “not the language I would have used”.
His response was not as strong as that of his colleague Alan Kelly, who last night asked her to withdraw her remarks.
Speaking on RTÉ’s Drivetime Mr Kelly said Hamas is a terrorist organisation “and I think it is very clear where the Irish people stand”.
Pressed on whether he would like to see Labour ask her to retract her comments, he said: “I would expect that will happen. I expect that will be necessary.”
Jennifer Whitmore of the Social Democrats defended Connolly in remarks made on the plinth of Leinster House a short while ago. She said the Independent TD had clarified her Hamas remarks on RTÉ Radio’s Morning Ireland.
Officially, the Social Democrats have said the party “would not have used the same language as Catherine”.
“It is up to the Palestinian people to decide who their political representatives should be, following free and fair elections,” it said in a statement.
So who is backing Maria Steen?
Not all of the backers are declared publicly. But this is what we know.
Peadar Tóibín TD; Paul Lawless TD; Michael Healy-Rae TD; Carol Nolan TD; Senator Rónán Mullen; Senator Sarah O’Reilly; Mattie McGrath TD; Senator Joe Conway; Senator Sharon Keogan; Gillian Toole TD, Paul Gogarty TD; and Marian Harkin TD.
That’s 12.
It’s thought Kerry Independent TD Danny Healy-Rae will follow his brother Michael’s decision and agree to sign the nomination papers today. That would make it 13.
There is speculation that Independent Senator Aubrey McCarthy may also be willing to sign the nomination papers. But as yet he has not spoken publicly about the matter. That would bring it to 14.
With the backing of the four Independent Ireland TDs, that would leave Steen with only two signatures to collect.
Dublin Bay North Independent TD Barry Heneghan will definitely not be signing the papers. He is a Catherine Connolly supporter and is, indeed, out of the country on his way to join a flotilla to Gaza.
So the efforts of Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín and other Steen supporters will focus on a number of other Independent TDs, namely those from the Regional Group who are supporting the Government. They include three Ministers of State: Seán Canney; Noel Grealish; and Kevin “Boxer” Moran. There is also the Independent TD for Tipperary, Michael Lowry, who has been notably quiet on this issue.
Maria Steen’s path to a presidential nomination
The four TDs from Independent Ireland have just begun meeting to decide if they are to back Maria Steen or not. Around noon, Michael Collins, Michael Fitzmaurice, Richard O’Donoghue and Ken O’Flynn will hold a press conference on the plinth of Leinster House to disclose their party’s position.
If the four do back Steen, she will have 17 nominations from Oireachtas members, just three short of the 20 required. There is a path there for her but she will need to persuade a number of key Independents to change their minds.
The statement issued by Marian Harkin this morning was highly significant. She said she would vote for Heather Humphreys in the election but had also agreed to nominate Steen.
Setting out her reasons, she said: “Firstly, she is a credible candidate and reflects all or some of the views of a significant portion of the Irish people.
“I believe we should see a respectful considered debate with different viewpoints in the upcoming presidential election and by not giving a voice to different viewpoints certain groups of people become further polarised, believing they are being sidelined in the discussion about the person we want to represent us as president for the next seven years.
“That leads to a fracture and polarisation. We have an opportunity to stop this happening, for now at least, by giving voters a wider choice.”
She also emphasised the role of Independents without any links to parties – formal or informal – in the electoral process.
“All the candidates nominated so far have been nominated by political parties, yet many Irish people vote for Independents and expect them to use their independent voice to influence outcomes.
“While of course the outcome of the election will be decided by the people, the opportunity to select an alternative candidate is largely within the gift of Independents.”
That statement will be used by those hoping to persuade Independent TDs and Senators who might be swaying to change their minds and sign the papers.
Who’s behind the derogatory posts about Jim Gavin?
Conor Gallagher wrote a fascinating report today identifying Kieran Kelly, a former fisherman from Waterford, as the person behind “malicious smears” about Fianna Fáil presidential candidate Jim Gavin.
Kelly is now based in Indonesia and identifies himself as a Trump loyalist and goes under the moniker of Captain Kieran Kelly.
Here is Conor’s report, including the conversation he had with Kelly, who did not provide any evidence to back by his allegations.
The unmissable Irish Times political digest
The political team wakes up before dawn to bring you a comprehensive early-morning digest, available by email and online to our subscribers, on each sitting day of the Dáil.
It lets you know about all the significant things that have happened, and which we expect to happen during the course of the day.
Ellen Coyne was the early-morning conductor this morning. Read her analysis of the day here.
Catherine Connolly on Hamas and Northern Ireland
Catherine Connolly asserted in a BBC interview yesterday that Hamas was part of the fabric of Palestinian life. She also criticised British prime minister Keir Starmer for saying the organisation, which has been proscribed, should play no part in a future administration in Palestine.
The Independent presidential candidate was interviewed on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland this morning, and was rigorously questioned by Audrey Carville on these matters, in addition to her views on Nato, and whether or not her position on a united Ireland tallies with that of Sinn Féin.
Vivienne Clarke writes that Connolly has denied ever being “equivocal” on Hamas, a day after saying the proscribed terrorist group was “part of the fabric” of the Palestinian people.
Her comments in a BBC interview on Monday were condemned by Taoiseach Micheál Martin, who said Hamas cannot be part of Gaza’s future.
Speaking on Tuesday, Ms Connolly condemned both Israel and Hamas for committing war crimes and said both sides will have to be held to account.
Here is Vivienne’s full report on the Morning Ireland interview.
And then there were three?
Hi, it’s Harry McGee and I’ll be bringing you live coverage of the presidential election campaign with only 24 hours left to the final deadline for nominations.
Yesterday, 12 councils throughout the State decided if they would nominate a candidate or not. All 12 rejected any nomination. It was the end of the road for Gareth Sheridan and other pretenders. It was also the first time in 28 years that no candidate came through the council route.
If the two big parties continue to block in the future, that Constitutional provision will become as moribund as it was for the first 60 years of presidential elections.
So it is three? We will find out by the end of the day. The four TDs of Independent Ireland meet soon to decide their position. If they back Maria Steen, the barrister and conservative campaigner, it is reckoned she will have 17 nominations, just three shy of the threshold of 20.
It gives her a possible route to be added to the ballot paper. There are a number of Independent TDs who are supporting Heather Humphreys. But two – Michael Healy-Rae and Marian Harkin – have already committed to giving Steen a nomination. There will be huge pressure put on others – Seán Canney, Noel Grealish, Kevin “Boxer” Moran – to sign the nomination papers. It will make for a very interesting 24 hours.
Meanwhile, Catherine Connolly has given an interview to Morning Ireland where her views on Hamas and a united Ireland were parsed closely by Audrey Carville. She launched her campaign last night. We will return to all those a little later on.
Elsewhere, Fianna Fáil candidate Jim Gavin will launch his campaign this week as he criticises social media companies for not taking down malicious and unfounded posts about his personal life.
