Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin has said he trusts councillors to support the party's presidential candidate Jim Gavin.
It comes after the decision that Fianna Fáil councillors will not be ordered to oppose independent candidates who are seeking to acquire a presidential nomination via local authorities.
The party's National Executive decided last night that party councillors would instead be asked to "do everything they can" to support the candidacy of Mr Gavin.
Mr Martin said that the "majority response…that we're getting from councillors is very strong support for Jim Gavin".
The Minister for Further and Higher Education, who is part of the National Executive, said that Fianna Fáil is not going to be "dictatorial" when it comes to supporting the party's candidate.
"We're not going to pose a strict whip or anything like that, but we do expect our councilors and our party around the country to get behind (Jim Gavin) and they're up for it," said James Lawless.
It had been anticipated that Fianna Fáil might adopt the same strategy as Fine Gael, which is applying the whip to its councillors to oppose facilitating independent nominations.
The national executive decision follows disquiet with some councillors about how Fianna Fáil selected Jim Gavin as the leadership's favoured candidate.
Yesterday, the party whip on Cork County Council, Deirdre Kelly, urged the party to reconsider how it selected its presidential candidate in future, as it did not foster the necessary engagement with local authority members.
She said what had happened was disappointing, and there had been "missed opportunities" to promote inclusive participation which risked alienating both councillors and party members.
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Earlier, Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald said her party councillors would not be ordered what to do in such ballots.
"Our councillors are very sensible people with a lot of cop on. They will go to their meetings. They will listen. They will hear what people have to say," she said.
Earlier this week, Ms McDonald ruled herself out of running in the Presidential Election.
War of words
Sinn Féin and Fianna Fáil have become embroiled in a war of words over comments about Gaza made by Mr Gavin.
In an interview yesterday, the Fianna Fáil candidate said, "It's unconscionable that the bombing is still taking place when I believe that the military objectives have probably been reached for that military campaign."
Tonight, Sinn Féin’s Pearse Doherty said this was a disgraceful way to talk about the brutal slaughter of tens of thousands of men, women and children.
Mr Doherty, who is viewed as a possible presidential candidate himself, called on Mr Gavin to withdraw the comments immediately.
"It’s a genocide, Jim," he said.
A Fianna Fáil spokesperson accused Sinn Féin of starting a negative campaign because it recognised that Jim Gavin was a strong candidate.
"Jim Gavin was a senior officer in one of the largest civil protection missions of the 21st century. His first reaction is always to focus on saving lives, and that’s what his short answer addressed.
"Deputy Doherty’s statement is an example of the type of politics which causes so many people to be cynical. Jim Gavin is unequivocal in his condemnation of the Israeli government’s genocidal actions. Hopefully this campaign will be spared this sort of fake outrage and cynical misrepresentation," they said.
'Alternative candidate'
Tomorrow, 11 TDs and senators will come together to hold a nominating caucus for a presidential candidate.
The group will be addressed by four potential runners understood to include conservative campaigner and Iona Institute member Maria Steen, independent Nick Delehanty and businessman Declan Ganley.
Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín has organised the gathering in a bid to try to build momentum around one potential candidate.
He said he saw a necessity for an "alternative candidate" in the election to ensure a diversity of values is discussed during the presidential election campaign.
A presidential candidate needs the backing of 20 Oireachtas members to get on the ballot paper.
The caucus will vote by PR-STV to select one individual in the hope that their backing might propel the person to get more support either in the Oireachtas or in councils across the country.
Independent senator Sharon Keogan will also attend the meeting.
She said she was hopeful that one of the two independents could get onto the ballot paper, either through the Oireachtas or council routes.
"We have an opportunity to put a candidate on the ballot paper whether we agree or disagree with their values."
Other independents, including senator Rónán Mullen and deputy Carol Nolan are also expected to take part.
Independent Ireland has said that its four TDs would only back a runner who had already secured 16 signatures.
In a post on X, the party said, "if you are not close to that number, anything else is nothing but a charade to garner media attention".
It said that it did not believe it was possible to get to the "magic number" of 20.
Additional reporting: Mícheál Lehane
