Barrister Maria Steen's efforts to become a presidential candidate look to have stalled as she still does not have the backing of the required 20 members of the Oireachtas.
The close of nominations is midday today and as things stand this presidential election could have the lowest number of candidates in 35 years.
Just hours out from the nomination deadline there are three confirmed candidates in the race.
These are Independent Catherine Connolly, Jim Gavin who is running for Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael's Heather Humphreys.
Maria Steen returned to Leinster House last night seeking the backing of three more TDs or Senators.
She has amassed the support of 17 politicians but scaling the final part of this summit is proving difficult for her.
Her campaign is going to actively pursue nominations until 10am today.
Some of her supporters are holding out a last ditch hope that someone from the Government side might break ranks and nominate her.
However, there is no indication this will happen and any politician contemplating it would immediately lose the lose the party whip.
Right now it looks like this will be the smallest field in a presidential election since 1990.
