INDEPENDENT SENATOR David Norris has resumed his campaign for a presidential nomination with a well-received pitch to Waterford County Council, but another contender, businessman Seán Gallagher, recorded a “no-show”.
Mr Gallagher was scheduled to address councillors about his ambitions for Áras an Uachtaráin yesterday but did not attend the special gathering in Dungarvan.
Another presidential contender, Special Olympics founder Mary Davis, requested in advance to be allowed speak at the July meeting of the local authority, and this was accepted.
Meanwhile, a Fianna Fáil spokesman said the party was in no hurry to decide on its approach to the presidential election.
There was “lots of time” for the party to decide whether to run its own candidate or support an Independent one, he said, pointing out that Mary McAleese was chosen as its candidate only seven weeks before the 1997 presidential election.
In Dungarvan, Mr Gallagher's failure to turn up did not go down well with some councillors. Fine Gael's Cllr John Carey suggested the Dragon's Denstar, had not "bothered his backside" and should stay where he was.
While no reason was given for Mr Gallagher's non-appearance, his spokesman told The Irish Timeslast night that he had rescheduled with officials and would speak at a later date.
Mr Norris, whose script had to be cut short due to a 10-minute time limit on speakers, was only too happy to make the most of his opportunity as he set about trying to win over one of the four councils (or 20 Oireachtas members) he requires for a nomination.
“All my life I have been on the outside knocking to be let in,” he said, urging the 18 out of 23 councillors present to “unlock the door” to his candidacy when they decide which individual to support by way of a nomination in September.
“I realise that I am no ordinary candidate,” the Senator declared, saying that “as a campaigner of 35 years . . . fighting for the underdog” sometimes his views have had to be “contentious”.
Complementing Mr Norris on his speech, Cllr Mary Greene of Fine Gael – which is the council’s dominant political force – said she was confident he would uphold his pledge to treat the office with decorum, dignity and imagination, and felt he would “add something to the nature of the election”.
Earlier, Carlow-born scientist and published poet Dr Pat Jones also sought the council’s backing for his nomination bid.
Citing his “excellent academic qualifications” – and past students including Fine Gael aspirant Avril Doyle – he endorsed the idea of merging the region’s institutes of technology to form “a university of the sunny southeast”.