Maria Steen says she delayed presidential run in case Michael McDowell tried for Áras

James Cox

Maria Steen has denied that a late entry was a factor in her failed presidential bid, adding that she was waiting for a decision from Senator Michael McDowell.

Ms Steen, who campaigned on the no sides in the abortion and same-sex marriage referendums, received 18 Oireachtas nominations and ultimately fell two short.

In the aftermath of her unsuccessful campaign she criticised the electoral system.

Writing in today's Sunday Independent, she said: "In response to those who have criticised what has been described as my late entry into the race, I have spoken about my concerns for my family and the impact that both a campaign and a possible election might have.

"But there was also another issue that influenced my decision: the question of who else might run.

"One of the potential candidates in question was Senator Michael McDowell."

Ms Steen campaigned on the no side in the family and care referendums, which were overwhelmingly rejected by the electorate, and praised Mr McDowell's "valuable contributions to that debate".

She also discussed the difficulties of securing a nomination from four local authorities to get on the ballot for the presidential election.

Ms Steen also reiterated her view that a late run was not the biggest issue for her campaign.

"​The reality is, there was more than enough time for anyone who wanted to nominate me to do so.

"Despite requests to meet and talk with certain Oireachtas members, my calls, emails and texts went unanswered.

"While I would never presume on anyone’s vote, and no one had an obligation to nominate me, I did appreciate the candour of those who met with me and told me — one way or the other — whether they intended to nominate me or not."

Addressing her supposed fallout with Mr McDowell, Ms Steen wrote: "I did learn yesterday that Senator McDowell told journalists that I am 'divisive' and that he was 'very, very uneasy' about sharing a platform with me last year.

"I was surprised to learn this, given that he had invited me to sit next to him at the top table in Buswells Hotel for the 'Lawyers for No' press conference that he organised.

"He is also reported as having said that he wouldn’t meet me because, as he put it, 'I wasn’t going to say to her face what I thought of her'.

"The truth is, that although he didn’t think it was appropriate for me to debate Micheál Martin last year, my relationship with him has always been cordial.

"Between March 2024 and September 2025, I had bumped into him socially and our meeting was perfectly friendly.

"I called him on September 1 to ask for his nomination, and when he didn’t answer the call, I texted him. He later replied by text, saying that he hadn’t made up his mind whether he was going to nominate someone, that he was monitoring the situation.

"I replied to say that I would keep in touch and let him know of my progress.

"Over the course of the next three weeks, and right up until the close of nominations on September 24, my calls, texts and emails went unanswered. I should say that he was not the only politician not to respond.

"McDowell’s description of me as 'divisive' does seem difficult to square with his other reported remark that, if nominated, he thought I actually might win.

"In an election based on the single transferable vote system, where there can be only one winner, divisiveness simply cannot be a path to victory.

"Despite not getting on the ballot, I do not feel like I have lost."

She went on to indicate she may not be finished with politics.

In an interview with The Irish Times on Saturday, Ms Steen addressed the online controversy over her Hermes handbag.

The bags range in price from around €10,000 to €30,000.

Ms Steen said "the handbag was deliberate".

She added: "I wanted to expose the hypocrisy of the left who don’t love the poor; they just hate the rich."

Ms Steen said it was hypocritical for feminists to say they want more women in public life and then “criticise a woman who happens to have the wrong values for carrying the expensive handbag”.

“Nobody would ever question a man about the price of his car or of his suit – or if he’s wearing an expensive watch – but a woman carries an expensive handbag, and that’s all the news."