Norris edges closer to nomination with 17th signature

Kilkenny, Laois, Roscommon and South Dublin County councils are meeting on Monday to vote on whether to support the Senator or Eurovision winner Dana Rosemary Scallon.

Candidates need the backing of four local authorities or 20 Oireachtas members to get their name on the ballot paper.

Carlow County Council is also scheduled to meet on Monday to debate requests from Senator Norris and Dana. Other local authorities in Longford and Donegal have meetings.

Fine Gael councillors there and on the other four local authorities have been directed to abstain from any votes on the final two contenders.

At the ploughing championships in Kildare, Taoiseach Enda Kenny said: “We are only interested in our candidate, Gay Mitchell.”

Senator Norris stepped down from the race for the presidency in August after it emerged he had written a letter pleading for clemency for his former partner who had been charged, and subsequently convicted, of the rape of a 15-year-old Palestinian boy.

Independent TD Thomas Pringle, who initially supported Senator Norris’ candidacy, revealed he had decided not to offer his backing for a second time.

Mr Pringle said he met Senator Norris in Dublin to tell him he was not in a position to sign nomination papers.

“If I’d been aware of the letter I would not have given Senator Norris my support initially. That situation has not changed from that,” he said.

Meanwhile Tipperary South Independent TD Mattie McGrath, who has previously pledged to support Dana, said that if she were to scrap her efforts to get Oireachtas backing and instead seek council nominations, then he would likely sign Senator Norris' papers.

"I do respect Senator Norris as a politician," Deputy McGrath said.

"I know he made mistakes, but who hasn't?"

"My feeling is that in the interests of democracy - let the people of Ireland decide who should be President."