CONFIRMED: The candidates who will contest next month’s presidential election
The deadline for nominations for the presidential election passed at 12 noon on Wednesday
The full list of candidates who will contest next month’s presidential election has been confirmed.
Independent hopeful Maria Steen was just two nominations away from securing a place on the ballot, having got the backing of 18 Oireachtas members.
She was in contact with a number of TDs and Senators throughout the day on Tuesday, and again on Wednesday morning.
However, she failed to secure their backing ahead of the deadline of 12 noon on Wednesday.
That means that just three candidates - Heather Humphreys (Fine Gael), Jim Gavin (Fianna Fáil) and Catherine Connolly (Independent) - will contest the election.
This represents the lowest number of candidates nominated to contest a presidential election since 1990.
On that occasion, Mary Robinson secured a narrow victory in what was also a three-horse race for the Áras.
The race could prove just as close this time around, with the latest opinion polls suggesting that there is very little to separate the three candidates.
The latest Red C survey for the Business Post puts Fine Gael’s Heather Humphreys leading the race on 22%, with Fianna Fáil candidate Jim Gavin in second place on 18%.
The left-backed independent, Catherine Connolly, is said to be in third place on 17%. Meanwhile, 36% of those questioned did not state a preference for any candidate.
Red C interviewed a random sample of 1,003 adults, aged over 18, between September 4 and 9. The margin of error is plus or minus 3%.
The presidential election will take place on Friday, 24 October. The deadline to register and update your details for in-person voting is Tuesday, 7 October.