{"id":80890,"date":"2025-09-23T11:35:10","date_gmt":"2025-09-23T11:35:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/80890\/"},"modified":"2025-09-23T11:35:10","modified_gmt":"2025-09-23T11:35:10","slug":"independent-ireland-votes-to-back-maria-steens-candidacy-for-president-the-irish-times","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/80890\/","title":{"rendered":"Independent Ireland votes to back Maria Steen\u2019s candidacy for president \u2013 The Irish Times"},"content":{"rendered":"

Independent Ireland has agreed to nominate Maria Steen to enter the presidential election.<\/p>\n

Ms Steen needs nominations from 20 Oireachtas members to contest the election and currently has as many as 16.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Key readsIndependent Ireland\u2019s four TDS back Maria Steen presidential nomination<\/p>\n

Cormac McQuinn writes: Independent Ireland has agreed to nominate Maria Steen to enter the presidential election. <\/p>\n

The decision adds four TDs and a considerable boost to Ms Steen\u2019s efforts to get in the ballot paper.<\/p>\n

She needs nominations from 20 Oireachtas members to contest the election and currently has as many as 16.<\/p>\n

Danny Healy-Rae is also due to announce his intentions imminently. It is expected he will also sign Steen\u2019s nomination papers. <\/p>\n

Ellen Coyne has details on its statement: <\/p>\n

\u201cFollowing 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.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe 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. <\/p>\n

\u201cAs 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 F\u00e1il and Fine Gael at council level, which we regard as an affront to democracy itself.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt 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\u2019s nomination papers today. \u201d<\/p>\n

Parties backing Connolly react to Hamas comments<\/p>\n

Left-leaning parties who are supporting Catherine Connolly have been reacting to her comments about Hamas being part of the fabric of Palestinian people. <\/p>\n

Sinn F\u00e9in TD Matt Carthy said Hamas is \u201cpart of situation in Palestine\u201d and \u201cthere\u2019s no doubt about that\u201d.<\/p>\n

He said he believes what Ms Connolly said is \u201cconsistent\u201d with what has been said by all parties in the Oireachtas.<\/p>\n

He said the actions of Hamas were \u201cwar crimes\u201d and \u201cindefensible\u201d but so too are the actions of the Israeli government.<\/p>\n

Mr Carthy said \u201cWhether we like it or not\u201d there will be \u201cno meaningful negotiations without those two entities\u201d<\/p>\n

In the last few minutes, Green Party leader, Roderic O\u2019Gorman has said: <\/p>\n

\u201cI see Hamas as a terrorist organisation and I don\u2019t see them as part of democratic governance of Palestine but I think we have to keep the door open.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ged Nash of Labour has said that her remarks in the BBC interview were \u201cnot the language I would have used\u201d.<\/p>\n

His response was not as strong as that of his colleague Alan Kelly last night who asked her to withdraw her remarks. <\/p>\n

Speaking on RT\u00c9\u2019s Drivetime Me Kelly said Hamas is a terrorist organisation \u201cand I think it is very clear where the Irish people stand\u201d.<\/p>\n

Pressed on whether he would like to see Labour ask her to retract her comments he said \u201cI would expect that will happen. I expect that will be necessary.\u201d<\/p>\n

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 RT\u00c9 Radio\u2019s Morning Ireland. <\/p>\n

Officially the SocDems have said the party \u201cwould not have used the same language as Catherine\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is up to the Palestinian people to decide who their political representatives should be, following free and fair elections,\u201d it said in a statement. <\/p>\n

So who is backing Maria Steen?<\/p>\n

Not all of the backers are declared publicly. But this is what we know. <\/p>\n

Peadar T\u00f3ibin; Paul Lawless; Michael Healy-Rae; Carol Nolan; Sen Ronan Mullen; Sen Sarah O\u2019Reilly; Mattie McGrath; Sen Joe Conway; Sen Sharon Keoghan; Gillian Toole, Paul Gogarty; Marian Harkin. <\/p>\n

That\u2019s 12. <\/p>\n

It\u2019s thought Kerry Independent TD Danny Healy-Rae will follow his brother Michael\u2019s decision and agree to sign the nomination papers today. That would make it 13. <\/p>\n

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. <\/p>\n

With the backing of the four Independent Ireland TDs, that would leave Steen with only two signatures to collect. <\/p>\n

The 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. <\/p>\n

So the efforts of Aont\u00fa leader Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn 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: Se\u00e1n 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. <\/p>\n

\"23\/01\/202523\/01\/2025 – Danny Healy-Rae’s signature may bring Maria Steen within two votes of getting nominated. Photograph Nick Bradshaw Maria Steen\u2019s path to a presidential nomination<\/p>\n

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\u2019Donoghue and Ken O\u2019Flynn will come out on the plinth of Leinster House and hold a press conference disclosing their party\u2019s position. <\/p>\n

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. <\/p>\n

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. <\/p>\n

Setting out her reasons she said: \u201cFirstly, she is a credible candidate and reflects all or some of the views of a significant portion of the Irish people. <\/p>\n

\u201cI 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. <\/p>\n

\u201cThat leads to a fracture and polarisation. \u201cWe have an opportunity to stop this happening, for now at least, by giving voters a wider choice.\u201d<\/p>\n

She also emphasised the role of Independents without any links to parties \u2013 formal or informal \u2013 in the electoral process. <\/p>\n

\u201cAll 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. <\/p>\n

\u201cWhile 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

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. <\/p>\n

\n

Delighted Marian Harkin TD has announced she is nominating Maria Steen for the Presidential election.<\/p>\n

There are just 3 candidates on the ballot.<\/p>\n

2 are from government.<\/p>\n

This is far too narrow. It’s no choice at all.<\/p>\n

If you’re a democratic TD, nominate & let the people decide.<\/p>\n

\u2014 Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn TD (@Toibin1) September 23, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Who\u2019s behind the derogatory posts about Jim Gavin? <\/p>\n

Conor Gallagher wrote a fascinating report today identifying Kieran Kelly, a former fisherman from Waterford, as the person behind \u201cmalicious smears\u201d about Fianna F\u00e1il presidential candidate Jim Gavin. <\/p>\n

Kelly is now based in Indonesia and identifies himself as a Trump loyalist and goes under the moniker of Captain Kieran Kelly. <\/p>\n

Here is Conor\u2019s report, including the conversation he had with Kelly, who did not provide any evidence to back by his allegations.<\/a><\/p>\n

The unmissable Irish Times political digest<\/p>\n

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 D\u00e1il. <\/p>\n

It lets you know about all the significant things that have happened, and which we expect to happen during the course of the day. <\/p>\n

Ellen Coyne was the early morning conductor this morning. Read her analysis of the day here<\/a>. <\/p>\n

Catherine Connolly on Hamas and Northern Ireland<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

The Independent presidential candidate was interviewed on RT\u00c9\u2019s 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 F\u00e9in. <\/p>\n

Vivienne Clarke writes that Connolly \u201chas denied ever being \u201cequivocal\u201d on Hamas<\/a>, a day after saying the proscribed terrorist group was \u201cpart of the fabric\u201d of the Palestinian people.<\/p>\n

Her comments in a BBC interview on Monday were condemned by Taoiseach Miche\u00e1l Martin<\/a>, who said Hamas cannot be part of Gaza<\/a>\u2019s future.<\/p>\n

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.\u201d<\/p>\n

Here is Vivienne\u2019s full report on the Morning Ireland interview. <\/a><\/p>\n

And then there were three?<\/p>\n

Hi, it\u2019s Harry McGee who will be bringing you live coverage of the presidential election campaign with only 24 hours left to the final deadline for nominations. <\/p>\n

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. <\/p>\n

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. <\/p>\n

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. <\/p>\n

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 \u2013 Michael Healy-Rae and Marian Harkin \u2013 have already committed to giving Steen a nomination. There will be huge pressure put on others \u2013 Sean Canney, Noel Grealish, Kevin Boxer Moran \u2013 to sign the nomination papers. It will make for a very interesting 24 hours. <\/p>\n

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. <\/p>\n

Meanwhile Fianna F\u00e1il 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. <\/p>\n

\"MariaMaria Steen. Photograph Nick Bradshaw\/The Irish Times