'Dragon' given council's backing for Aras

Independent candidate and 'Dragon's Den' participant Seán Gallagher has been backed by Meath County Council for the presidency. Businessman Mr Gallagher received his first formal nomination to contest the October election when he sailed through the nomination process at a meeting of the council on Monday. On the proposal of Cllr Jimmy Cudden, who was unable to attend the council meeting, and seconded by Cllr Wayne Harding, who put the proposal to councillors, he got the support of 14 councillors with none against. Twelve members, including the largest party, Fine Gael, abstained and four members were absent. Cllr Harding said he was putting the proposal in the absence of Cllr Cudden. "Mr Gallagher is a highly successful entrepreneur and businessman and someone who has done outstabnding work for many charities, including the National Council for the Blind of Ireland," he said. He had also done major work in the provision of employment for intellectually and physically disabled people, he added. Cllr Cudden had said before the meeting that he thought any democracy should be able to accommodate people who wanted to run for election but did not have the backing of a major party. Cllr Joe Reilly said the system of nomination for candidates for the presidency was "archaic and outdated". He said he would be voting for the right of Sean Gallagher to be nominated. Cllr Brian Fitzgerald said that he, too, would be voting for the right to get Mr Gallagher's name on the ballot paper. "I felt that any person who wanted to go for election should not have to go through this type of system. He has a right to run." Cllr John Farrelly said that the Fine Gael Party had its own candidate in Gay Mitchell and the party's members on Meath County Council were going to abstain in the vote on the proposal to nominate Mr Gallagher. Mr Gallagher said after the meeting: "I was delighted to be nominated in Meath County Council by independent councillor, Jimmy Cudden. I want to thank the councillors for the courtesy they have shown me and for their support here today. "The response of local councillors around the country in utilising powers under the constitution to nominate candidates in the forthcoming ballot has been really positive. Local councils have shown they value their powers to nominate candidates for the Presidency and were prepared to give those running as independents a fair hearing." Mr Gallagher said to underpin his independent candidacy, he decided to ask councils for a nomination rather than go through the Oireachtas. Other councils which have already indicated their support are Clare, Longford, Donegal and Roscommon. Mr Gallagher requires the support of four councils under the constitution. Councils can support only one candidate.