Independent junior minister Marian Harkin has become the second minister to sign presidential election nomination papers for barrister Maria Steen.
It comes on a crunch day for the conservative campaigner as Independent Ireland meets on Tuesday morning to decide whether to back her.
There are currently 12 nomination papers signed for Ms Steen, including Ms Harkin. The Irish Examiner understands that two more TDs and senators are due to sign papers today.
If Independent Ireland opts to back her, she will have 18 supporters and will need to convince just two more Oireachtas members to get on the ballot.
It comes as Gareth Sheridan brought his campaign to a close on Monday after failing to secure the nomination of four local authorities. He had won nods from Kerry and Tipperary county councils and had hoped to land two more yesterday, but his bid eventually proved unsuccessful.
In a statement, Ms Harkin said Ms Steen is a “credible” candidate and had signed her nomination papers.
However, like junior minister Michael Healy-Rae, Ms Harkin said she is signing Ms Steen’s papers but will vote for Fine Gael’s Heather Humphreys in the election.
“I have signed the presidential election nomination papers for Maria Steen,” she said.
“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.
“I am nominating Maria Steen for a number of reasons. Firstly, she is a credible candidate and reflects all or some of the views of a significant portion of the Irish people.
“I believe we should see a respectful, considered debate with different viewpoints in the upcoming presidential election and by not giving a voice to different viewpoints, certain groups of people become further polarised, believing they are being sidelined in the discussion about the person we want to represent us as president for the next seven years.
“That leads to a fracture and polarisation. We have an opportunity to stop this happening, for now at least, by giving voters a wider choice.
“Secondly, all the candidates nominated so far have been nominated by political parties, yet many Irish people vote for Independents and expect them to use their independent voice to influence outcomes.”
Ms Harkin said the opportunity to select an alternative candidate is largely “within the gift of Independents”.
“In the longer term we need a debate about how presidential candidates get their names on the ballot paper, but for now we must work within our constitutional and legal limits.
“In this regard, the political parties have blocked alternative avenues through the county councils but we, as independent members of the Oireachtas, have the freedom to provide that pathway.
“Finally, while I do not agree with Maria Steen’s views on a number of issues, I will however defend her right not only to have those views but also to articulate them in a presidential election. This is an important space where different views can be discussed, we shouldn’t just leave it to social media.”
Ms Harkin said she has “faith in the Irish electorate to select the most suitable candidate as our next president”, adding: “My only role for now is to help give them the opportunity to make their choice from a more diverse group of candidates”.