Ms Dana Rosemary Scallon is considering approaching Oireachtas members for support to secure a nomination for the presidency. Martin Wall reports.
A spokesman for the former MEP said, however, that she would continue her campaign to have at least four local authorities nominate her to run in the election.
The spokesman said that Ms Scallon had opted not to start seeking support from Oireachtas members until it had become clear that neither Mr Michael D. Higgins of the Labour Party nor Green Party deputy Mr Eamon Ryan, both of whom would have been looking to TDs and senators for nominations, would be running. The Dana campaign yesterday declined to give details on what support, if any, has been promised by members of the Oireachtas.
The spokesman for Ms Scallon said that there had been indications of support from a number of Oireachtas members.
However, he said Ms Scallon was now considering contacting Oireachtas members. The former MEP requires the signatures of 20 TDs or senators to allow her to enter the presidential race.
Ms Scallon is to continue on a parallel track of seeking to secure the support of four local authorities for a nomination.
The Dana campaign has urged Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael councillors to abstain in votes on whether to grant her a nomination. Ms Scallon is understood to have urged local authority members from the two largest parties that an abstention would allow them to retain their position of supporting or not opposing the President, Mrs McAleese, without blocking another candidate from entering the race.
The first test of this new strategy is likely to come tomorrow. The Dana campaign has said it has asked Cork City Council and Limerick City Council, which meet tomorrow, for their support.
A spokesman said that up to 15 other local authorities are due to hold meetings early next week which would be in time to nominate Ms Scallon before the Government's deadline of the beginning of October.