Fingal County Council has tonight become the first local authority to nominate Senator David Norris for the presidency.
The Independent Trinity College Senator requires four local authorities or 20 members of the Oireachtas to give him their nomination before he can run in the election.
"We're delighted, it's great for democracy," a spokeswoman for Senator Norris said. "We're a quarter way up the hill."
The nomination, which does not imply political support for his candidacy, was proposed by Independent Cllr David O'Connor and Labour Mayor of Fingal, Cllr Ken Farrell.
The vote was 12-5 in favour of the nomination
Senator Norris wrote to the 34 eligible local authorities on March 14th seeking permission to address them on his efforts to receive a nomination.
He addressed Meath County Council in Navan today and is due to address Wexford and Carlow on May 13th.