As with every election campaign, I am out on the streets and talking up my preferred candidate or cause. This time out, just like with Lisbon 2, I have left Fine Gael behind to support a different group. If you weren’t aware, I am supporting Mary Davis for the Irish Presidency. There are many reasons for this. but I think she is best placed to represent Ireland abroad and to engage Irish communities at home. On Friday I went on my...
The Sunday Independent has two polls in it today in relation to the Presidential Election today. I am going to ignore the “less scientific, Sunday Independent/ Quantum Research” poll. The poll found support for the declared candidates as follows: Michael D Higgins 32% (Lab) David Norris 19% (Ind) Mary Davis 18% (Ind) Gay Mitchell 17% (FG) Sean Gallagher 14% (Ind) While this poll was taken before Martin McGuinness of Sinn Fein entered the race, it is still interesting. Sean...
RTÉ reported last night that a party whip was being applied to Fianna Fail TD’s and Senators to stop them individually nominating Independent candidates. Speaking in an interview aired on RTÉ’s This Week In Politics, Seán Ó Fearghail, The Fianna Fail whip, said the party would act collectively if it chooses to support an independent candidate. This is seen as a blow to the possible return of Senator Norris to the race for the Presidency. The Irish Times today...
So with the campaigning underway and nominations coming in, Paddy Power has commissioned RED C to undertake an opinion poll for the Presidential Election. The results are interesting and changes are from the last RED C Poll in August. Micheal D Higgins (Lab) 36% (-3) Gay Mitchell (FG) 24% (-1) Sean Gallagher (Ind) 21% (nc) Mary Davies (Ind) 19% (+4) The only candidate to rise in the poll is Mary Davies, which may show some momentum in the campaign...
This week has the campaign for the Irish Presidency has got properly under-way. Official nominations have begun to passed by nominating Local Authorities. So far five local authorities have used there constitutional right to nominate a candidate. Sean Gallagher is the closest independent candidate to gaining a full nomination having received the backing of three councils. Meath County Council, Leitrim County Council have nominated him, while Cork City Council will officially nominate him at a meeting next week following...
So following on from my post “Race for the Aras” its time to look at the parties candidates for the Presidency elections. First up is Fine Gael. Back in April the first candidate out of the block was current Ireland East MEP Mairead McGuinness announced her decision to seek Fine Gael’s nomination for the presidency. Since then there as been many changes. Former Taoiseach John Bruton and Ireland South MEP have ruled themseleves out of the running. Gay Mitchel,...
This Column appeared in the Cork Independent on Thursday 26th May 2011 I joined Fine Gael in 2004. If someone told me on that day, that in seven years time Enda Kenny would be welcoming the British Queen and American President to Ireland as the leader of the largest party in Dáil Eireann and the Toaiseach of the largest Government Majority in coalition with Labour. I probably would have laughed in their face and said in your dreams. During...
This year sees one of the most hotly contested Presidential elections in years. With candidates declaring from all parties and none, it will be interesting to see who actually makes it on to the ballot paper. It is notoriously difficult to get a nomination as Dana found out in 2004 when she attempted to run against the current President Mary McAleese. To be nominated candidates need 20 Oireachtas members to nominate them or 4 city or county councils. The...
This morning I awoke to the sad news that former Taoiseach Garret Fitzgerald had passed away. “Garret the Good” as he was known was always someone held in high regard in my family. He is one of the Giants of Irish Politics. He gave his all to Irish Politics and was a shining example of active citizenship in this country. He was the founding fathers of Young Fine Gael as part of his reorganisation of Fine Gael in 1977....
The Seanad elections are continuing today and the count for the Labour Panel took place yesterday and concluded last night. There was 21 candidates for 11 seats. 4 candidates had to be elected on each sub-panel. The following were elected: Maurice Cummins (FG) 1st Count (outside panel) Healy-Eames, Fidelma (FG) 4th Count (inside panel) Maloney, Maire (Lab) 6th Count (outside panel) Cullinane, David (SF) 9th Count (inside panel) Mulcahy, Tony (FG) 13th Count (inside panel) Keane, Cait (FG) 13th...
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