Roscommon County Council to hear from Presidential hopefuls on Monday

Roscommon County Council has confirmed that it will hear representations from Independent Presidential election hopefuls at a specially convened meeting on Monday next, September 15.

Cllr Liam Callaghan, Cathaoirleach, Roscommon County Council, said approximately 15 submissions had been received by the local authority with those hoping for a place on the election day ballot paper now having the opportunity to put forward their cause on next week.

"We will hear representations from Presidential election hopefuls on Monday next and the Council has contacted all those who made submissions to the local authority requesting our support. However, we are unsure if all 15 individuals will turn up to make their presentation to the Chamber," Cllr Callaghan said.

The Cathaoirleach stated that each individual will have five minutes to "state their case" to the Chamber following which the elected representatives will then set aside five minutes to pose questions relevant to each presentation.

"We will then decide, based on the presentations before us, if there is an individual worthy of the Council's support and nomination for the Presidential election on October 24," the Cathaoirleach said.

Fine Gael councillors across the country have already received a directive from party headquarters to block the nomination of Independent candidates.

Candidates who address Roscommon councillors on Monday morning next will need the support of four councils or 20 Oireachtas members to have their name written on the October 24 ballot paper.

To date, Independent TD Catherine Connolly and Fine Gael's Heather Humphreys are the only two candidates confirmed to contest the Presidential election next month.