Senator David Norris is to approach Fianna Fail for support in his renewed bid to become President of Ireland.
Norris confirmed he will hold talks with the FF party after a weekend opinion poll backed his decision to run again.
The Sunday Independent poll claimed 40 per cent of those questioned were in favor of Norris as a Presidential candidate while 60 per cent believed Fianna Fail should back him.
The Fianna Fail party is currently embroiled in a bitter dispute over the election with deputy leader Eamon O Cuiv threatening to lead a breakaway.
FF boss Micheal Martin is against the idea of running a candidate and may now opt to support Norris as he seeks the 20 signatures he needs from members of the Irish parliament to formally run.
“Fianna Fail is democratically elected. Any person who is democratically elected has a right to nominate and I will talk to anybody,” said Norris after he confirmed his decision to re-enter the election.
“You’re not in the race until you have the numbers. And that’s the reality of it. And that’s what I am working on. And I will work on that with the goodwill I am getting, I hope I get it,” added Norris.
“I am watching the situation and the work will start on Monday. “I am hopeful. I am very hopeful. I am always a positive person,” he said.
Fianna Fail’s parliamentary group will meet again on Tuesday to discuss the election with senator Labhras O Murchu still looking for a nomination to run on behalf of the party.
Former Independent MEP and former presidential election candidate Dana Rosemary Scallon has also asked for the party’s support.
8 Comments
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.Towngate | Sep 20, 2011, 03:52 AM EDT
Trealach: Agreed, but the 'fly in the woodpile' is when a Party forbids any of its Members to support an individual. ~ that's bullying tyranny; not democracy. It should be a 'Free Vote' on such an important matter. ~~~ The arrival of the Second First Deputy Substitute Minister's second best cawbeen into the ring; gives the Electorate a dilemma: Who can they vote for to best keep Norris and McGuinness out of the Aras! --- things are a little brighter today for the Lisping Gombeen and O'Hobbit! ~ et.al.
Trealach | Sep 19, 2011, 08:34 PM EDT
@Antonman - the system is democratic, unlike the US. ALL anyone needs are the 20 votes of the Oireachtas or 4 County/City Councils. It's OPEN to ANYONE who can get those votes. The members of the Councils and the Oireachtas have already been elected by the people, with THAT mandate when a Presidential election is called, to choose the 'most suitable candidates/s'. THAT IS Democracy.
antoman | Sep 19, 2011, 02:18 PM EDT
@Trealach- I was making the comparison to the Irish Presidency and the Royal Navy in that to gain rank or position in the Royal Navy it was a case of who you are and who you knew. This, in this day and age applies to the Irish Presidency too. There is nothing democratic about the Presidential race. People who vote do so only after those higher up have decided that the candidate can finally be presented to the people.
Trealach | Sep 19, 2011, 02:00 PM EDT
@Antonman - since WHEN did the British Navy have a President? I suppose you'd like the Social Welfare to pay for you to stand for election? Get REAL!!
ancavker | Sep 19, 2011, 12:59 PM EDT
This silly man should give it up already. Only the Irish would elect someone as their President who is ambivalent at best about the county he claims to want to represent.
sirpeter | Sep 19, 2011, 12:50 PM EDT
I would have given Dorris my vote months ago even with all the crap surrounding him.But he quit to take the heat off himself when the going got tough.Something weak about a person who doesn't tough it out.He should have said he was wrong or stood by his convictions.Instead he just ran away.He just wants a handy number.We need politicians with a bit of backbone.
antoman | Sep 19, 2011, 11:58 AM EDT
Change the election process so that the common man walking his dog on the Commons road can enter the race. Getting the backing of four councils or twenty TD's smacks of elitism and nepotism. Gaining the Presidency in Ireland is akin to how it works or worked in the English Navy. In that its a case of who you are and who you know.
Towngate | Sep 19, 2011, 10:18 AM EDT
Full marks for tenacity to David Norris! But his appearance on the RTE Late Late Show was a defensive struggle even against a no-count media puppet like host Tubridy. David needs to learn to 'drive the agenda' soon as he is running out of time. Otherwise,it's 'curtains' for him, I'm afraid.