Independent Ireland calls for referendum on process

The Taoiseach has rejected change to presidential nominations after Maria Steen and Gareth Sheridan cry foul

The Taoiseach has rejected change to presidential nominations after Maria Steen and Gareth Sheridan cry foul

Mary Regan, Tabitha Monahan and Maeve McTaggart

Today at 06:30

The Taoiseach has rejected suggestions that the nomination process for the presidential election is “anti-democratic” after a failure of Independent candidates to get on the ballot prompted calls for changes to the rules.

Conservative activist Maria Steen, who fell short of the 20 TDs or senators needed to secure a nomination, criticised what she described as an “oppressive consensus” in Irish politics.