Catherine Connolly, Heather Humphreys and Jim Gavin will be the three names on the ballot paper for next month’s Presidential election.

The election will take place on Friday, the 24th of October.

Maria Steen had hoped to be the fourth name in the race, but the conservative campaigner had received just 18 of the 20 required nominations from TDs and senators by the time the deadline passed, at midday on Wednesday.

Independent Ireland's calling for a referendum to change the Presidential nomination system, following Maria Steen’s failure to secure the support of 20 Oireachtas members to appear on the ballot paper.

To discuss this further, Alan Morrissey was joined on Friday's Morning Focus by Fianna Fáil Minister of State, Timmy Dooley and Joe Cooney, Bodyke Fine Gael TD.

Image (c) Aras An Uachtarain by Pawel Gaul from Getty Images Signature via canva