Presidential candidate Gavin Duffy and his wife Orlaith Carmody greet members of the public (pics 2 to 6) while President Michael D Higgins, who’s running for a second term as the president, also mixes with the crowds before officially opening the event (pic 7 to 11).
Gavan Reilly, political correspondent with Virgin Media News, has tweeted a table (above) of which candidate councils across the country nominated to run for president and which councils put forward no candidate at all.
These are my notes – afaik there’s only three who haven’t *actively* voted to ignore all candidates, but instead where no councillor actually tabled a motion to back someone in the first place.
Journalist and presidential hopeful Gemma O’Doherty at Sligo County Council today
Earlier today.
At Sligo County Council.
Where the council heard from several presidential hopefuls seeking a nomination…
Marese McDonagh, in The Irish Times, reports:
Ms [Gemma] O’Doherty clashed with the Cathaoirleach, Fianna Fáil councillor Martin Baker and officials who had asked an unidentified person filming in the public gallery to stop or to leave the chamber after strong objections from Fine Gael councillor Hubert Keaney.
She said the public was entitled to see what is happening “in our chamber” . “What are you afraid of?” she asked.
After the would-be candidates finished their contributions and withdrew from the chamber, Councillor Keaney said he had asked that the rules be observed and he did not want the impression to go out that the council was against free speech.
Fianna Fail #Aras18 candidate @seangallagher1 now has five endorsements. He only needs four yet he continues to give presentations at local authorities. This is a waste of public money and councillors’ time which could be spent more effectively on the housing and hospital crisis
1/2 It is the Constitutional prerogative of each local authority to nominate whatever candidate it wishes through majority vote once that candidate satisfies a small number of preconditions around age & nationality. It really is that simple.
Speak to your colleagues in Monaghan about that. I drove directly down from that meeting. Why did you hold your meeting on the same day as five other councils? Also you have a democratic duty to give the people a choice
Because we already had a meeting on the 3rd Sep for perspective candidates which you didn’t attend. And we had statutory business to deal with last Monday (10th) so we included anor opp for you to attend at that. The people will have a choice. It just won’t include you #Aras18
As you well know, Kerry and Cork City Council were also held on Sept 3rd. You had seven years to prepare for #Aras2018 and not hold meetings on the same day #EndCorruptionNow
Thats why we had anor meeting on 10th which u were an hour late for. Othr candidates havent complained. They prepared, had teams in place & indeed had courtesy to call each Cllr for an in-depth chat on their priorities etc U did none of this. It isn’t us Gemma, its u I’m afraid.
Mayo County Council vote to nominate Sean Gallagher for President after a vote that broke 12-10, with 8 absent councillors. FF side of house and two independents voted for Gallagher