Maria Steen would likely have secured a nomination if the councils had not been stitched up. Photograph: Nick Bradshaw
Blocking Maria Steen from running for the presidency was not clever. It is likely to rebound in particular on Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael.
Let us consider a different scenario, however improbable. Suppose Michéal Martin, who effectively manoeuvred to prevent even any FF politician or former politician from running, had instead decided to emulate Enda Kenny in 1997. Kenny instructed Fine Gael councillors merely to abstain rather than vote against Dana Rosemary Scallon when she took the local authority route to nomination. Kenny did so even though Fine Gael had Mary Banotti in the race. (Fine Gael was not so magnanimous in later presidential elections)
Steen would likely have secured a nomination if the council
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