Will Aontú be able to enter a Presidential candidate in the race?

Aontú is working to build a block of 25 Oireachtas members to facilitate a Presidential candidate.

Mayo TD Paul Lawless has confirmed to The Mayo News that several potential contenders have approached the party seeking support.

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“We're hoping to establish a group of 25 or so, like a caucus, where potential candidates can come and make their pitch and seek a nomination to run for president, and so we're trying to facilitate that debate,” said Deputy Lawless

Independent TDs and Senators are reportedly “considering joining the caucus and facilitating another candidate running.”

The Presidential election is scheduled to take place later this year, with candidates requiring the backing of 20 Oireachtas members or four local authorities in order to be officially nominated.

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Aontú's effort may become a key factor in broadening the field.

At the time of going to print, just Fine Gael's Mairead McGuinness and Independent Catherine Connolly had the support of twenty or more Oireachtas members to secure their place on the ballot paper later this year.

Speculation abounds whether Fianna Fáil or Sinn Féin will enter a candidate in the presidential race.

Asked directly whether businessman Declan Ganley was among those who had approached Aontú, Lawless declined to confirm.

“There are a number of individuals who’ve made contact,” he said. “In fairness to them, while they may be happy to put their names forward, unless there’s a mechanism for them to actually gain a nomination, it’s not really fair to put the name into the public domain at this stage.”