Unlike Fine Gael, Kildare Fianna Fáil Councillors Free To Back Independents In Presidential Nomination Bid

Wednesday, 10 September 2025 10:34

By Martin Osborne

The approach contrasts with Fine Gael, which has applied the whip to prevent its councillors from facilitating independent nominations.

Kildare's twelve Fianna Fail councillors will not be ordered to block independent candidates seeking a presidential nomination through local authorities.

The party’s National Executive decided last night instead to ask its councillors to “do everything they can” to back Jim Gavin’s candidacy.

The approach contrasts with Fine Gael, which has applied the whip to prevent its councillors from facilitating independent nominations.

It will take just three councillors to put a name forward for presidential nomination at Kildare County Council next week - but a simple majority of those present will ultimately decide whether that candidate secures the council’s backing.

A special meeting of the council has been provisionally scheduled for Monday, September 15 at 3.30pm, when candidates will be given ten minutes each to present their vision and outline their manifestos.

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