Minister of State Michael Healy-Rae has announced he will give Maria Steen a nomination to contest the presidential election.
It’s understood Ms Steen is now just four nominations short of making it on to the ballot paper for the presidential election.
In order to contest the presidential election, a candidate must be nominated by 20 Oireachtas members, or four county councils.
According to Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín, 11 Oireachtas members had committed to signing the nomination papers for barrister Maria Steen, who unsuccessfully sought a nomination from Kerry County Council.
Now, Kerry TD and Minister of State Michael Healy-Rae has announced he will sign the nomination papers for Ms Steen as well.
In a statement, he said he believes that democracy is best served when candidates who are serious and committed are not denied their place on the ballot.
Minister Healy-Rae added that he signed nomination papers for Martin McGuinness in 2011, and in the same spirit of fairness and respect for the democratic process, he will be giving Maria Steen the same opportunity to contest the election.
Michael Healy-Rae had publicly said he would support Fine Gael’s Heather Humphreys in the election, and his statement has reaffirmed that his support is firmly with Heather Humphreys and he is backing her campaign 100%.
He said signing a nomination paper is not a signal of electoral support, it is simply ensuring that the people of Ireland are given a fair and full choice when they go to the polls.
The Independent Ireland party, which has four Oireachtas members, has said that they will also sign Ms Steen's nomination papers if she makes it to 16 nominations.
That means she now only needs four more TDs or Senators to sign her nomination papers to confirm her place on the ballot paper.
