Council fixes date for special meeting to hear from Áras hopefuls
The race for the Áras has gathered momentum in the last week.
Roscommon councillors will hold a special meeting on Monday next, September 15th at 11 o’clock to hear from several independent presidential hopefuls seeking their support.
The council’s corporate policy group fixed the date this morning, Monday, for the meeting in the council chamber where each candidate will have 10 minutes to make a presentation to elected members.
Each presentation will comprise five minutes for a pitch and another five minutes for questions and answers.
Candidates who will be setting out their stall in front of Roscommon councillors next Monday morning will need the backing of either 20 Oireachtas members or four councils in order to get their name on the ballot paper. The presidential election takes place on Friday, October 24th.
At the special meeting, local councillors will decide whether or not they will back an Independent candidate in the race for the Áras.
The ruling coalition on Roscommon's eighteen member local authority comprises five Fianna Fáil, four Fine Gael and three Independents, Tom Crosby, Laurence Fallon and Emer Kelly.
Fine Gael councillors across the country have already received a directive from party HQ to block the nomination of Independent candidates.
Fine Gael has already selected Heather Humphreys as the party's candidate.
Fianna Fáil is expected to issue a similar directive to its councillors once its party candidate has been officially nominated.
As it stands, fifteen prospective presidential candidates could make their pitch to Roscommon councillors next Monday.
