As Meath County Council met to hear from presidential hopefuls yesterday, Fine Gael's general-secretary sent his charges a warning e-mail.

Tom Curran's message reminded councillors of the party decision to back the re-election bid of Michael D Higgins - and said as a consequence they should "neither propose or support other candidates."

This is stricter than the message that was sent to Fine Gael councillors on July 18th, which only asked them not to nominate other candidates but did not reference supporting them.

The message was shared in a WhatsApp group of councillors from across the country and was reportedly badly received.

Some of them said Fine Gael should have its own candidate in the race.

Support for Gavin Duffy

Meath Councillor Gerry O'Connor told LMFM on Tuesday morning he will not be enforcing the party whip, as a number of his members have already pledged support for Mr Duffy.

"If I put the whip in place then those councillors are breaking party rules and they will be probably expelled from the party. Now I need those numbers to get budgets across."

Councillor O'Connor said a number of councillors will support Mr Duffy, who has lived in Meath for many years, because of his work in the local community.

"What's good for Fine Gael nationally is not necessarily good for Fine Gael locally" he said, when asked about the party decision to support President Higgins.

One Carlow councillor said the higher ups are "fighting a losing battle" if they think local reps are going to toe the party line and not help to get other candidates on the ballot.

He also raised concerns about allowing Fianna Fáil to choose who gets the nominations from a council if Fine Gael's members abstain.

The councillor said it is an issue that will probably blow over in the party - but added: "There will always be one or two who would only love to go on the radio and threaten to resign over it."

Presidential hopeful Gavin Duffy, with Rocklands Sheepdogs Mia and Moat, at the Tullamore Show in Co Offaly | Image: Sasko Lazarov/Photocall Ireland

Kilkenny County Council will be the next local authority to hear from presidential hopefuls when it sits on Friday.

One of the Fine Gael reps in Kilkenny said he imagines the councillors will stick to the party line and abstain because there is no-one in the field strong enough to encourage them to break policy.

"If someone local was running it might be a different story."

But having spoken to other councillors around the country, he does not believe all will adhere to the policy and hold back from supporting candidates.

Nominations for president will close on September 26th, with the election being held a month later on Friday October 26th.