Minister of State Marian Harkin has backed conservative campaigner Maria Steen to enter the presidential election.
She told Shannonside Northern Sound she will be supporting Fine Gael candidate Heather Humphreys in the campaign.
But she confirmed that she is willing to facilitate Ms Steen entering the race.
In a statement later, Ms Harkin said: “I have signed the presidential election nomination papers for Maria Steen.
“As a member of the Oireachtas I have two votes in the presidential election and will use both -one to nominate a candidate whose name can appear on the ballot paper, in this case Maria Steen, and the other to vote for my preferred candidate, Heather Humphreys.”
Ms Harkin said that while she does not agree with Ms Steen’s views on a number of issues, which she did not list, she will “defend her right not only to have those views but also to articulate them in a presidential election”.
Ms Harkin’s intervention will be a boost to the conservative commentator as she continues to seek the 20 Oireachtas nominations needed to contest the election.
Ms Steen met three of Independent Ireland’s four TDs on Monday night to request their support as she scrambles to reach the threshold before the close of nominations on Wednesday.
It is understood she said that with the support of the party, she would have 17 or 18 TDs and Senators willing to sign her nomination paper – just two short of the required number.
Independent Ireland TDs will hold a meeting at 11am to decide on whether it will endorse her candidacy.
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Sligo-Leitrim TD Ms Harkin is the second independent Minister of State to say they are prepared to help Ms Steen to enter the race.
Kerry TD Michael Healy-Rae, a junior agriculture minister, is also supporting Fine Gael’s candidate Ms Humphreys but has said he will sign nomination papers for Ms Steen to ensure there was a “fair and full choice” for voters.