Presidential hopefuls are meeting members of Longford County Council today in a bid to gain a nomination.
To be eligible to run, candidates must get the support of four local authorities.
A total of 20 candidates asked to meet with Longford councillors in a bid to gain a nomination.
The process started at 11 o’clock this morning with online presentations from Seana Kerr, 2020 Seanad candidate Abbas Ali O’Shea, former Presidential candidate Peter Casey, and controversial former UCD professor Dolores Cahill,
Former General Election candidate Charlotte Keenan and conservative campaigner Maria Steen both appeared in person.
William P Allen and Joseph Obi failed to show for their respective timeslots.
Speaking from his home in the US, Peter Casey said the office of President had evolved into a meaningless role but that it could be used to make a difference.
He said Ireland was at a crossroads and was being overrun by both legal and illegal immigrants.
If elected, he said he would give more power back to county councils.
Maria Steen said she would be a unifying President and that many families did not feel valued.
She said she would respect the constraints of the office and would not speak out about issues such as foreign policy.
She added that she hoped to one day be a citizen of a 32-county Ireland.
The remaining candidates will be introduced to councillors this afternoon.
Sources however suggest the Fianna Fáil/Fine Gael dominated chamber won’t nominate any of today’s hopefuls.
