Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

Shutterstock/trabantos

Last remaining councils to meet to nominate their presidential candidate

Other than Michael D Higgins, there are five people on the ballot paper so far.

THE LAST REMAINING councils which are yet to nominate a candidate for the presidency are due to meet today. 

With the closing date for nominations 26 September, and with just a handful of councils left, its likely there will be no more presidential hopefuls added to the ticket. 

Sligo, Kildare and Cork County Councils are due to meet today, with Donegal, Louth and Laois County Councils expected to hold meetings also. 

So far, there are five candidates in the race, other than the incumbent Michael D Higgins. 

Businessman Sean Gallagher received nominations early on from Roscommon, Leitrim, Mayo, Wexford councils. 

Senator Joan Freeman has also received the four nominations needed to be a candidate, getting the support from Cork City, Galway County, Fingal, Galway City councils. 

Businessman Gavin Duffy secured support from Meath, Carlow, Wicklow, Waterford councils, while businessman Peter Casey got the nod from Kerry, Clare, Limerick, Tipperary councils. 

Sinn Féin chose MEP Liadh Ní Riada as its candidate last weekend. 

Under the rules, in order for a candidate to get on the ballot they must secure the backing of at least four councils. With just six in the mix, it is widely expected no one else will secure the numbers needed. 

Councils are only allowed nominate one candidate, however, a number of councils such as Dublin City Council and South Dublin County Council have voted in favour of not selecting a candidate. 

Presidential spending 

Though the presidential election is still a few weeks out, the spotlight will be on the Office of the President this week as the Oireachtas Public Accounts Committee presses ahead with its hearing tomorrow into the spending of the president

Despite a warning from the Secretary General of the Department of An Taoiseach Martin Fraser that such a move to scrutinise the expenditure of the president could be seen as a breach of the Constitution, the committee voted earlier this week to proceed with the meeting. 

A number of politicians voiced their concerns about the timing of doing so, with Fianna Fáil’s Micheál Martin calling on the committee to desist. However, the chairperson of the PAC, Sean Fleming said the committee has never allowed an election, of any kind, to determine the work of the committee and the remains the case. 

Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

Close
11 Comments
This is YOUR comments community. Stay civil, stay constructive, stay on topic. Please familiarise yourself with our comments policy here before taking part.
Leave a Comment
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Hardly Normal
    Favourite Hardly Normal
    Report
    Sep 24th 2018, 6:30 AM

    How undemocratic is it by a council to say no we’ll sit this one out. Even if they’re all terrible candidate’s surely they should have to put one forward. Seems like a bit of a cop out really!

    62
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute The Bob
    Favourite The Bob
    Report
    Sep 24th 2018, 8:10 AM

    @Hardly Normal: Actually I completely disagree. Nominating someone just for the sake of it seems rather foolish. When they vote on the nominations they are voting on “Should we support person X to run for President”. They are voting on “Who do we like least/most to run for President”

    48
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Hardly Normal
    Favourite Hardly Normal
    Report
    Sep 24th 2018, 9:22 AM

    @The Bob: you could say the same for every general/local election we vote for the best of the worst. It’s a complete cop out to say I refrain from voting in every scenario. Use your voice to give a voice!

    10
    See 1 more reply ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Tom Shine
    Favourite Tom Shine
    Report
    Sep 25th 2018, 4:23 AM

    @The Bob: isn’t that what the public do at general elections time.

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Tom Molloy
    Favourite Tom Molloy
    Report
    Sep 24th 2018, 6:44 AM

    Have the National Media picked who they will promote and who they will undermine yet ? They may wait until the most effective moment although sometimes they start right away.

    35
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Mary King
    Favourite Mary King
    Report
    Sep 24th 2018, 11:19 AM

    @Tom Molloy:
    Seems to me that they are all supporting the current incumbent, hopefully I will be proven wrong and that proper unbiased analysis will take shortly take place.

    4
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Tony Hutchinson
    Favourite Tony Hutchinson
    Report
    Sep 24th 2018, 8:16 AM

    Gemma for president

    30
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute CrabaRev
    Favourite CrabaRev
    Report
    Sep 24th 2018, 8:46 AM

    @Tony Hutchinson: Which one is Gemma again? Is she the one with the blonde wig calling herself Bunty Mc Something or other? Or is she one of the others?

    15
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Steve Mac
    Favourite Steve Mac
    Report
    Sep 24th 2018, 11:31 AM

    @CrabaRev: She’s the a antivax conspiracy theorist one. The one that the Boyle, Molloy and Guerin families have come out against despite her using their names for her campaign.

    7
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Paddy Downey
    Favourite Paddy Downey
    Report
    Sep 24th 2018, 9:28 AM

    in many ways I think it’s important that people like ‘gemma’ are nominated – the public need to see that these people exist, and people with their line of thought exist.

    9
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Tricia G
    Favourite Tricia G
    Report
    Sep 24th 2018, 10:24 AM

    @Paddy Downey: I used to agree with you but then Brexit passed; and Trump got elected….. Not to mention Boris and Rees-Mogg stirring up fervent Nationalism…… At this rate it’s the public and their poor decisions I’m frickin scared of!

    12
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.

Leave a commentcancel