Irish presidential election, 2018

Irish presidential election, 2018
26 October 2018

 
Nominee Peter Casey Gavin Duffy Joan Freeman
Party Independent Independent Independent
 
Nominee Seán Gallagher Michael D. Higgins Liadh Ní Riada
Party Independent Independent Sinn Féin
Incumbent President

Michael D. Higgins
Independent

The Irish presidential election of 2018 will take place on Friday, 26 October, between 7.00 a.m. and 10.00 p.m.[1] President Michael D. Higgins, who was elected in 2011, is seeking re-election.[2] This will be the first time since the 1966 election that an incumbent president will face a contest for a second term, and the first occasion on which an incumbent president nominating themselves for re-election has been opposed, as Éamon de Valera was nominated by Fianna Fáil when he sought re-election in 1966. It is also the first election with two candidates who contested the previous election. The inauguration for the next presidential term will take place on 11 November.

The election will be held on the same date as a referendum on blasphemy.[3]

Procedure

Presidential elections are conducted in line with Article 12 of the Constitution[4] and under the Presidential Elections Act 1993, as amended.[5] All Irish citizens entered on the current electoral register are eligible to vote.[4] Under the Electoral (Amendment) Act 2011, there is a spending limit by each candidate of €750,000. Candidates who are elected or who reach 12.5% of the vote on their elimination are entitled to a reimbursement of expenses up to €200,000.[6]

Candidates

Peter Casey

Peter Casey is a businessman from Derry who formerly appeared on a television series, Dragons' Den.[7]

Gavin Duffy

Gavin Duffy is a businessman from Kildare and has been a dragon on Dragons' Den since it first broadcast in 2009.[8][9]

Joan Freeman

Joan Freeman founded Pieta House, a suicide intervention charity, in 2006.[10][11][12] She served as its director until 2014. In 2016, she was nominated by the Taoiseach as a member of Seanad Éireann, sitting as an Independent. She is supported by Rural Independent TDs Michael Collins, Michael Harty and Mattie McGrath.[13]

Seán Gallagher

Seán Gallagher is a businessman from Cavan who came second in the 2011 presidential election.[14][10] He was a dragon investor in the first three seasons of Dragons' Den.

Michael D. Higgins

On 10 July 2018, current president Michael D. Higgins declared that he would nominate himself as a candidate for the presidential election.[15][16] Higgins had said in 2011 that he intended to serve one term only, but changed his mind over the course of his term.[17] Higgins's website and social media accounts became active on 17 September, having been dormant since his inauguration in November 2011.[18] He nominated himself on 24 September.[2]

He has the support of Fine Gael,[19][20] Fianna Fáil,[21][22] the Labour Party,[23][24] the Social Democrats,[25][26] the Green Party,[27] and the Workers' Party,[28] as well as Independent ministers Katherine Zappone[29] and John Halligan.[30]

Liadh Ní Riada

Liadh Ní Riada, MEP for South since 2014, was confirmed as the Sinn Féin candidate on 16 September.[31][32]

Nomination process

On 28 August the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government, Eoghan Murphy, signed the order for the presidential election, specifying the nomination period as between 10 a.m. on 30 August and 12 noon on 26 September 2018.[1]

To stand for election as president, candidates must:

  • be a citizen of Ireland
  • be at least 35 years of age
  • be nominated by:
    • at least twenty of the 218 serving members of the Houses of the Oireachtas (parliament), or
    • at least four of the 31 county or city councils, or
    • themselves, in the case of a former or retiring president who has served one term.

If a member of the Oireachtas or a County or City council nominate more than one candidate, only the first nomination paper received from them will be deemed valid.[5]

The president exercised his right to nominate himself for a second term.[2]

Sinn Féin was the only party to select a candidate. With 28 Oireachtas members (22 TDs and six Senators), the party could nominate a candidate without the need for additional nominations from independents to reach the requirement of 20 Oireachtas members, as they had required in 2011. Nearly all other parties in the Oireachtas support the re-election of Michael D. Higgins. People Before Profit declined to support any candidate in the election.[33] Eleven Oireachtas members signed a nomination form for Gemma O'Doherty, nine short of the required number.[34] Independent TD Michael Fitzmaurice had tried to gather the support of other Independent TDs and Senators to support a candidate, but was unsuccessful. Nineteen were willing to be involved in his effort to find a candidate, one short of the twenty required to be nominated.[35]

18 local authorities passed resolutions supporting a particular candidate, while the remaining 13 local authorities either passed no resolution or passed a resolution which declined to nominate any candidate. Candidates needed the support of at least four local authorities to be a candidate in the election.

Name Occupation Resolutions Councils
Peter Casey Businessman 4 Clare,[36] Kerry,[37][38] Limerick,[37][39] Tipperary[37][7][40]
Gavin Duffy Businessman 4 Meath, Carlow, Wicklow, Waterford[41]
Joan Freeman Senator 4 Cork City,[36] Fingal,[42] Galway County,[37][10] Galway City[43]
Seán Gallagher Businessman 5 Roscommon,[37][10] Mayo,[37][10] Leitrim,[44] Wexford,[45] Cavan[46]
Gemma O'Doherty Journalist 1 Laois[47][48]
No candidate 13 Dublin City,[49] Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown,[50] Louth,[51] Kilkenny,[50] Monaghan,[50] Offaly,[50] South Dublin,[52] Westmeath[50], Kildare[47], Cork County, Donegal, Longford, Sligo

Others who had sought a nomination from local authorities were: Norma Burke,[49] William Delaney, Patrick Feeney, John Groarke, Patrick Melly, Marie Goretti Moylan, Sarah Louise Mulligan, Kevin Sharkey, James Smyth[10], David Doucette,[53] and John O'Hare.[54] Sharkey withdrew his name from consideration during the nomination period, calling for the nomination of Gemma O'Doherty.[55]

Senator Gerard Craughwell had said that he would seek the nomination if Higgins were otherwise to be unopposed.[56][57] However, in July he announced that he would not contest the presidential election, in light of Sinn Féin's decision to run a candidate.[58] He also cited the financial costs of running for the presidency as a factor in his decision not to contest the election.[59]

Despite Fianna Fáil support for the incumbent Michael D. Higgins, a few of the party's Councillors urged the leadership to nominate Galway West TD Éamon Ó Cuív, but he declined to allow his name to proceed as he would risk his party membership.[60]

Debates

Irish presidential election debates, 2018
Date BroadcasterModerator Participants
 P  Participant    A  Absent invitee   Casey Duffy Freeman Gallagher Higgins Ní Riada
27 September[61] RTÉ Radio 1 Áine Lawlor P P P A[lower-alpha 1] A[lower-alpha 1] P
13 October[62] RTÉ Radio 1 Cormac Ó hEadhra P P P P P P
15 October[63] RTÉ One TV Claire Byrne P P P P A P
17 October[63] Virgin Media One Pat Kenny P P P P P P
23 October[63] RTÉ One TV Miriam O'Callaghan P P P P P P
24 October[63] Virgin Media One Matt Cooper / Ivan Yates P P P P A P
  1. 1 2 Higgins did not participate due to scheduling conflicts, and Gallagher did not participate because Higgins did not take part.

Opinion polling

Last date
of polling		 Polling firm / Commissioner Casey Duffy Freeman Gallagher Higgins Ní Riada
16 September 2018 Red C/The Sunday Business Post[64] 1% 6% 3% 15% 67% 7%[lower-alpha 1]
10 October 2018 Red C/Paddy Power[65] 1% 4% 6% 14% 70% 5%
  1. ↑ Figure for "Sinn Féin candidate". Poll conducted before Ní Riada's candidacy was announced.

Result

The count will begin at 9 a.m. on Saturday 27 October.

Irish presidential election 2018
CandidateNominated by% 1st PrefCount 1
Peter Casey County and City Councils
Gavin Duffy County and City Councils
Joan Freeman County and City Councils
Seán Gallagher County and City Councils
Michael D. Higgins Himself as incumbent president
Liadh Ní Riada Oireachtas: Sinn Féin

References

  1. 1 2 "Minister Murphy makes Presidential Election Order". Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government. 28 August 2018. Retrieved 28 August 2018.
  2. 1 2 3 "Public Notice Presidential Election 2018 Nomination of Candidates" (PDF). Presidential Election 2018. 24 September 2018.
  3. ↑ "Thirty-seventh Amendment of the Constitution (Repeal of offence of publication or utterance of blasphemous matter) Bill 2018". Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government. 21 September 2018. Retrieved 28 September 2018.
  4. 1 2 Article 12 of the Constitution of Ireland. "Constitution of Ireland". Irish Statute Book. Attorney General of Ireland. October 2015. Retrieved 16 September 2017.
  5. 1 2 "Presidential Elections Act 1993" (PDF). Irish Presidential Election. Presidential Returning Officer. Retrieved 21 September 2018.
  6. ↑ "Electoral (Amendment) Act 2011". Irish Statute Book. Attorney General of Ireland. 25 July 2011. Retrieved 22 September 2018.
  7. 1 2 "Peter Casey secures nomination to contest presidency". RTÉ News. 18 September 2018. Retrieved 18 September 2018.
  8. ↑ Brophy, Daragh (14 September 2018). "Businessman Gavin Duffy becomes fourth official candidate in presidential race". TheJournal.ie. Retrieved 14 September 2018.
  9. ↑ "Gavin Duffy confirms he wants to run for presidency". The Irish Times. Retrieved 29 July 2018.
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Freeman and Gallagher both secure nominations for Áras bids". RTÉ News. 10 September 2018. Retrieved 10 September 2018.
  11. ↑ Bardon, Sarah (5 July 2018). "Joan Freeman may be seeking nomination to run for presidency". The Irish Times. Retrieved 7 July 2018.
  12. ↑ Ryan, Philip (6 July 2018). "'Darkness into Light' campaign founder seeks nomination for the Áras". Irish Independent. Retrieved 7 July 2018.
  13. ↑ Kelly, Fiach (24 July 2018). "Joan Freeman asks councils to hold meetings to help possible presidential candidates". The Irish Times. Retrieved 28 September 2018.
  14. ↑ "Seán Gallagher to seek nomination for Presidential Election". RTÉ News. 29 August 2018.
  15. ↑ Bardon, Sarah; Kelly, Fiach (10 July 2018). "Michael D Higgins confirms he will seek second term". The Irish Times. Retrieved 10 July 2018.
  16. ↑ Lehane, Micheál (10 July 2018). "Michael D Higgins to seek second term as president". RTÉ News. Retrieved 10 July 2018.
  17. ↑ Fitzgerald, Cormac (25 September 2017). "Over 75% of people want Michael D to serve a second term as president". TheJournal.ie. Retrieved 26 January 2018.
  18. ↑ McQuinn, Cormac (18 September 2018). "President Michael D Higgins back on Twitter as he kicks off Áras re-election campaign". Irish Independent. Retrieved 21 September 2018.
  19. ↑ "Fine Gael supporting President Michael D Higgins in election campaign". Fine Gael. 18 July 2018. Retrieved 28 September 2018.
  20. ↑ Bardon, Sarah (11 July 2018). "Fine Gael to canvass for Michael D Higgins in election campaign". The Irish Times. Retrieved 14 July 2018.
  21. ↑ "FF Confirms Support for President Michael D. Higgins". Fianna Fáil. 26 June 2018. Retrieved 28 September 2018.
  22. ↑ Doyle, Kevin (26 June 2018). "Fianna Fáil to support Michael D Higgins if he runs for second term as President". Irish Independent.
  23. ↑ "Labour Party confirms support for re-election of President Michael D Higgins". Labour Party. 12 July 2018. Retrieved 28 September 2018.
  24. ↑ McEnroe, Juno; McConnell, Daniel (24 August 2017). "Labour would back Michael D Higgins in Áras run". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 14 July 2018.
  25. ↑ "Social Democrats back Michael D Higgins for President". Social Democrats. 9 September 2018. Retrieved 28 September 2018.
  26. ↑ "Social Democrats back Michael D Higgins for presidential election". Irish Examiner. 9 September 2018. Retrieved 28 September 2018.
  27. ↑ "Green Party Endorses President Michael D Higgins for Second Term". Green Party. 27 September 2018. Retrieved 28 September 2018.
  28. ↑ "Statement on Michael D. Higgins's candidacy for the Presidential elections". Workers' Party of Ireland. 4 October 2018. Retrieved 4 October 2018.
  29. ↑ Bardon, Sarah (2 July 2018). "Katherine Zappone backs President Higgins for a second term". The Irish Times. Retrieved 4 July 2018.
  30. ↑ Quinn, Trevor (3 July 2018). "Waterford TD John Halligan is backing President Michael D Higgins for a second term in office". Irish Mirror. Retrieved 4 July 2018.
  31. ↑ "Sinn Féin nominates Liadh Ní Riada to contest the Presidential Election". RTÉ News. 16 September 2018. Retrieved 16 September 2018.
  32. ↑ "Public Notice Presidential Election 2018 Nomination of Candidates" (PDF). Presidential Election 2018. 24 September 2018.
  33. ↑ "People Before Profit Statement on the Presidential Election". People Before Profit. 27 September 2018. Retrieved 28 September 2018.
  34. ↑ McNamee, Gareth (26 September 2018). "It's official - six candidates to contest presidential election as nomination process ends". TheJournal.ie. Retrieved 29 September 2018.
  35. ↑ McGee, Harry (19 September 2018). "Independent TDs and Senators fail to agree on presidential nomination process". The Irish Times. Retrieved 21 September 2018.
  36. 1 2 "Public Notice Presidential Election 2018 Nomination of Candidates" (PDF). Presidential Election 2018. 21 September 2018.
  37. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Public Notice Presidential Election 2018 Nomination of Candidates" (PDF). Presidential Election 2018. 25 September 2018.
  38. ↑ "Peter Casey receives first council nomination for presidential race". The Irish Times. Retrieved 17 September 2018.
  39. ↑ O'Carroll, Sinead (18 September 2018). "Peter Casey receives 3rd council nomination... needs one more to make the ballot paper". TheJournal.ie. Retrieved 18 September 2018.
  40. ↑ "Peter Casey receives two presidential endorsements". RTÉ News. 17 September 2018. Retrieved 17 September 2018.
  41. ↑ "Public Notice Presidential Election 2018 Nomination of Candidates" (PDF). Presidential Election 2018. 21 September 2018.
  42. ↑ "Public Notice Presidential Election 2018 Nomination of Candidates" (PDF). Presidential Election 2018. 21 September 2018.
  43. ↑ "Public Notice Presidential Election 2018 Nomination of Candidates" (PDF). Presidential Election 2018. 18 September 2018.
  44. ↑ "Public Notice Presidential Election 2018 Nomination of Candidates" (PDF). Presidential Election 2018. 17 September 2018.
  45. ↑ "Public Notice Presidential Election 2018 Nomination of Candidates" (PDF). Presidential Election 2018. 12 September 2018.
  46. ↑ "Public Notice Presidential Election 2018 Nomination of Candidates" (PDF). Presidential Election 2018. 19 September 2018.
  47. 1 2 Lehane, Mícheál (24 September 2018). "O'Doherty gets presidential endorsement from Laois council". RTÉ News. Retrieved 24 September 2018.
  48. ↑ "Public Notice Presidential Election 2018 Nomination of Candidates" (PDF). Presidential Election 2018. 25 September 2018.
  49. 1 2 Pollak, Sorcha (13 September 2018). "Dublin City Council votes not to endorse candidate as Áras race turns farcical". The Irish Times. Retrieved 14 September 2018.
  50. 1 2 3 4 5 Ó Cionnaith, Fiachra (17 September 2018). "Nearly 25% of councils decline to nominate presidential candidate". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 21 September 2018.
  51. ↑ "Presidential round up: 18 local authorities decisions so far". The Irish Times. Retrieved 17 September 2018.
  52. ↑ Gleeson, Colin (20 September 2018). "Presidential hopeful Sarah Louise Mulligan ejected from Dublin meeting". The Irish Times. Retrieved 21 September 2018.
  53. ↑ "Special meeting of Fingal County Council to consider Presidential nomination requests". Irish Examiner. 5 September 2018. Retrieved 17 September 2018.
  54. ↑ "Presidential election hopefuls to seek Tipperary Co. Council nomination tomorrow". The Nationalist. 17 September 2018.
  55. ↑ "Kevin Sharkey pulls out of Presidential race". Irish Examiner. 17 September 2018. Retrieved 17 September 2018.
  56. ↑ Finn, Christina (15 August 2017). "Running for president of Ireland is not something I would do willy-nilly, but we need a contest". TheJournal.ie. Retrieved 16 September 2017.
  57. ↑ Dunne, Seán (15 August 2017). "Senator to run against Higgins to ensure election for presidency". The Irish Times. Retrieved 16 September 2017.
  58. ↑ "Craughwell will not contest Presidential Election". RTÉ News. 23 July 2018. Retrieved 23 July 2018.
  59. ↑ Murray, Sean. "Gerard Craughwell says he's not running for the presidency because he can't afford it". TheJournal.ie. Retrieved 23 July 2018.
  60. ↑ Ó Cionnaith, Fiachra (7 September 2018). "Éamon Ó Cuív quit race over Fianna Fail threat". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 17 September 2018.
  61. ↑ "Presidential candidates discuss salary, Trump and HPV vaccine in first debate". RTÉ News. 27 September 2018. Retrieved 14 October 2018.
  62. ↑ "Funding and expenses dominate Presidential campaign debate". RTÉ News. 13 October 2018. Retrieved 14 October 2018.
  63. 1 2 3 4 "Higgins to take part in three presidential debates". RTÉ News. 2 October 2018. Retrieved 14 October 2018.
  64. ↑ "Latest polls suggest President Higgins on course for landslide re-election". Irish Independent. 16 September 2018.
  65. ↑ McMorrow, Conor (12 October 2018). "Poll suggests significant lead for Higgins". RTÉ News. Retrieved 12 October 2018.

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