Kerry County Council is going to review the procedural approach it currently has in place for prospective presidential candidates that are seeking a nomination from the council.
Independent councillors Jackie Healy-Rae and Charlie Farrelly both tabled motions on the issue at the recent monthly meeting on the council.
The council told both councillors that it’ll convene the expanded Corporate Policy Group to review this.
Cllr Jackie Healy-Rae sought that Kerry County Council amend its standing orders so that future prospective candidates need the sponsorship of at least one elected councillor so they can make a presentation to the full council.
Cllr Charlie Farrelly asked the council to change its standing orders so that prospective candidates who have ambitions to run in future Presidential elections must be proposed and seconded by two sitting Kerry County Councillors, before they are allowed to make a presentation to the council.
Their motions come after the Kerry County Council heard from 14 potential candidates seeking a nomination to contest the Presidential election at a special meeting in Áras an Chontae last month.
As it stands, Kerry County Council hears presentations from any Irish citizen aged over 35 that contacts the local authority seeking a nomination.
Cllr Jackie Healy-Rae says his motions isn’t about putting a threshold in place that makes it difficult to get onto the podium, but it’s about ensuring candidates are serious about addressing the council and taking on the role.
Meanwhile, Cllr Charlie Farrelly says this is still democracy but he feels it will ensure that the council’s time isn’t wasted by people who may not show up to present to the council, despite asking for its support.
In response, Kerry County Council stated it will convene the expanded CPG to review this and bring forward a proposed addendum to the standing orders covering the procedural approach to Presidential election nominations.
