"Once every seven years, the councillors get to exercise a profound power that has enormous implications. Councils get to decide if a candidate can get on the ticket for the election to become president. It's a privileged position the council members find themselves in. There are two routes to get on the ballot. The first and most obvious route is through the Oireachtas, where the signatures of 20 TDs and senators are required."
"The big parties have such numbers on their own, so Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and Sinn Féin can all nominate their own candidates. The respective parties have their own internal processes in place to select a candidate. Fine Gael's context can technically involve every party member, Fianna Fáil's selection is limited to a vote of the parliamentary party and Sinn Féin's Ard Comhairle makes the decision for the party."
Today, the first day of September, marks the official start of the autumn calendar. Regular meetings of local councils will come under national scrutiny in the coming weeks. Once every seven years councillors exercise a power to decide which candidates can be nominated for the presidential ballot. Two nomination routes exist: endorsement by 20 TDs and senators through the Oireachtas, or nominations from four county or city councils. Major parties can nominate via internal selection rules that vary by party. Independent candidates can seek council endorsements or gather cross-party Oireachtas support; Catherine Connolly secured such backing. In 2018, 18 of 31 councils offered nominations, adding several independents to the ticket while 13 councils declined.
Read at Irish Independent
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