Well known barrister and political commentator Maria Steen has said she is “grateful” to have her name mentioned as a possible candidate for the Presidential election and that she wants to see “a truly democratic process in which candidates from outside the political establishment have a chance”.
Steen issued the statement to media outlets after comments from Senator Sharon Keogan were reported in a local newspaper this morning, identifying Steen as one of five candidates the Senator wished to see on the ballot.
Steen’s statement says that she has “made no decision” to seek a nomination, and that she does not presently have a campaign in place. However her statement stopped short of a clear denial of interest in the role.
She went on to say that she thought that “widespread dissillusionment” exists with “a system in which the only choice we are given is to elect one of the usual suspects”.
At present one candidate – Catherine Connolly TD – is seen as a certainty to be on the Presidential ballot, with Fine Gael’s Heather Humphreys almost certain to join her. Others who are publicly seeking a nomination include businessman Gareth Sheridan and commentator Nick Delehanty, while much speculation has also circled the names of Declan Ganley and Michael Flatley, neither of whom have publicly commented.
Steen’s statement in full:
“According to some reports, Senator Sharon Keogan has stated that she wants to help five independent candidates onto the ballot paper for this year’s presidential election, and that I am one of them.It is heartening to see Senator Keogan promoting a truly democratic process, in which candidates from outside the political establishment have a chance – not one in which the political parties act as gatekeepers to the Phoenix Park.I have not made any decision to seek a nomination and have no campaign in place.While I am grateful that my name would be mentioned as a possible candidate for the highest office in the land, I suspect this reflects widespread disillusionment with a system in which the only choice we are given is to elect one of the usual suspects, all of whom share the “right kind of views”.