2011 Irish presidential election "foisted on him and he had not known anything about it and what it would involve". This followed unease among Fianna Fáil parliamentary party Oireachtas members, with a number unhappy that a candidate was being imposed by the leadership without discussion. On 16 August 2011, the "Irish Examiner" reported that Micheál Martin had moved to pull the party out of the presidential race over the fallout from the approach to Gay Byrne, the cost involved and the slim chance of a candidate being elected. On 24 August, however, the party's deputy leader Éamon Ó Cuív told Raidió na Gaeltachta that
2011 Irish presidential election members of the Oireachtas or four city or county councils. A number of independent politicians sought support from local authorities, with four candidates nominated by the resolutions of four or more councils: A number of councils scheduled special meetings to consider presidential nominations prior to the deadline of midday on 28 September 2011. Seven candidates contested the presidential election, having been selected by their parties or having received sufficient council nominations. This was the largest number of candidates to contest an Irish presidential election. The "motley crew" of candidates ("The Washington Times") led to much attention on the campaign and