BREAKING: Limerick Council makes decision on its nomination for Presidential Election

LIMERICK City and County councillors have voted to not nominate anyone for next month's Presidential Election after more than an hour of deliberation and voting.

Four candidates were put forward to be considered for nomination - Ashford man Gerben Uunk, Knockainey's Dr Donnacha MacGabhann, plus Maria Steen of Dublin and Cllr Kieran McCarthy of Cork.

But no candidate secured the support of the majority of the chamber. In this instance, it means that no hopeful will be nominated.

Earlier this Monday, Clare County councillors decided against nominating a candidate to take part in the contest.

And the decision of Limerick's councillors to do likewise makes it all but certain that no candidate will secure the required support of four local authorities to secure a place on the ballot paper.

Independent Ireland have not ruled out supporting Presidential hopeful Ms Steen, who did present to Limerick Council on Wednesday last. Meetings were being held this Monday.

Three candidates are on the ballot so far.

They are former Dublin football boss Jim Gavin for Fianna Fail, Heather Humphreys, Fine Gael and Catherine Connolly, an Independent candidate who is being supported by a number of parties including Sinn Fein.

The deadline for candidates to get on the ballot paper falls at lunchtime this Wednesday, September 24.

Last week, 12 would-be candidates put their case to councillors to be nominated to contest the Presidential Election.

In this number were two people who are based in Limerick, plus hopefuls from Cork, Dublin, Donegal, Kerry and Kilkenny.

In order to contest the Presidential Election, set for Friday, October 24, hopefuls need either 20 members of the Oireachtas nominating them, or at least four local authorities.

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As a result of this, would-be candidates have been carrying out tours of councils around the country seeking the backing of local authorities.

On Wednesday of last week, council held a question-and-answer session for potential candidates,with each person having the opportunity to make their case for a nomination.

It was this Monday, at the regular full meeting of Limerick City and County Council that it will be decided if the local authority will nominate any person.

Knockainey man Dr MacGabhann was seeking a place on next month’s ballot.

A former art-teacher and assistant principal of John the Baptist School in Hospital, Dr MacGabhann says if he is elected, he will introduce a range of initiatives based on the Constitution.

Also flying the Limerick flag was Ashford man Mr Uunk.

Born in the Netherlands, he is the founder and secretary of the Party for Animal Welfare.

He contested three elections in Limerick last year - the mayoral contest, the local election and the General Election.

Others who addressed councillors were William P Allen (West Cork), Tony Corrigan, Nick Delehanty (Dublin), Cllr Kieran McCarthy (Cork), Keith McGrory (Donegal) and Diarmaid Mulcahy (Galway). They were joined by Conor O’Brien and Charlotte Keenan, Catherine Morrissey (Kilkenny), Walter-Ryan Purcell (Cork), Dr Cora Stack (Dublin) and Ms Steen (Dublin).

Whoever wins the election will become the new President of Ireland succeeding Michael D Higgins, who steps down after 14 years.