Maria Steen has failed in her bid to be a candidate in next month's Presidential election.
By the time nominations closed at midday today, the conservative campaigner had received support from 18 TDs and Senators - just two short of the 20 needed to get on the ballot paper.
Ms Steen's failure means the race for the Áras will be between three candidates; Catherine Connolly, Heather Humphreys and Jim Gavin.
Maria Steen with TD supporters. Picture by: Leah Farrell/© RollingNews.ie.This morning, with Ms Steen still lobbying Oireachtas members for nominations, Irish Examiner journalist Louise Burne predicted it would go “right to the wire”.
“There was some talk in Leinster House about what would Michael Lowry do,” she explained on Newstalk Breakfast.
“Could he possibly come on as number 19? If he came on as number 19, he would probably bring 20 with him.
“So, there’s all eyes on Michael Lowry; he wasn’t answering anybody’s phone calls or text messages last night.
“Could he step in and save the day?”
While in theory, Government TDs and Senators could have nominated Ms Steen, while still pledging to vote for their own party candidate, it is likely there would have been severe consequences for those who did so.
“Rumours were flying around Leinster House yesterday, particularly of Fianna Fáil Senators who might come on and back Maria Steen,” Ms Burne said.
“[The Steen camp] thought that Fianna Fáilers were weighing up the collateral damage and seeing what would happen.
“In New York, Micheál Martin sent a message to his TDs and Senators and said that there would be consequences if they signed Maria Steen’s nomination papers.”
Maria Steen and her husband Neill arrive for a meeting of Dublin City Council. Picture by: Sasko Lazarov/© RollingNews.ie.The withdrawal of Gareth Sheridan from the race earlier this week means that Galway TD Catherine Connolly will be the only independent TD on the ballot paper.
The left winger has backed by Sinn Féin, the Social Democrats, Labour, the Greens and People Before Profit.
Former Cabinet Minister Heather Humphreys has been nominated by Fine Gael, while Fianna Fáil is supporting former Dublin GAA manager Jim Gavin.
Main image: Maria Steen with her husband Neill speaking to the media outside Leinster House. Picture by: Leah Farrell/© RollingNews.ie.
