WHY do so few people seem to want to become President of Ireland?
We’re expecting an election at some point in October, but so far only have one runner in the race to replace Michael D Higgins.
Catherine Connolly officially threw her hat in the ring this week.
The President gets the final sign off on new laws passed here, plays an important role in representing Ireland abroad and brings politics into communities right across the country.
However, we haven’t got droves of people running for the Presidency yet because of politics.
Potential candidates are terrified a long campaign will see their chances unravel as they field questions and their past is poured over.
Here, Irish Sun Political Correspondent ADAM HIGGINS outlines some of the questions we might ask wannabes — if they’re brave enough to come forward.
HOW’S YOUR CÚPLA FOCAIL?
The President of Ireland will represent the country across the world and an important part of that will be bringing a little bit of Irish culture with them on their way.
Michael D Higgins has a real grá for the Irish language and has done a brilliant job in sprinkling a cúpla focail into his speeches wherever he goes.
If we want to keep our language alive, we need those at the very top to lead the way.
Candidates may want to sharpen up on their Irish — there’s a course in Donegal that will have you waxing lyrical as Gaeilge in weeks.
HAVE YOU ANY SKELETONS IN YOUR CLOSET?
You might as well come clean from the start.
No matter how hard you try, those transgressions from your past will find a way to come out.
With the Dail closed and politicians stuck into “constituency work”, it tends to get quiet over the summer months for the news agenda.
Us reporters will be on the lookout for any sort of scandal to sink out teeth into and it can lead to political storms.
I’d imagine we might see a few “tell all” style interviews from candidates who want to air their dirty laundry early.
IS THE PRESIDENT PAID TOO MUCH?
How much money is too much for one person from the public purse?
Especially when they already get free room and board in a beautiful home in the Phoenix Park.
Uachtarán na hÉireann is the second highest-paid head of state in Europe and takes home €330,000 a year — more than €2.3million in their seven-year term.
This falls only behind Switzerland, whose President takes home €545,000.
SHOULD OFFICE OF THE PREZ BE FOI-ABLE?
As a journalist, I believe the Freedom of Information Act is one of the most important pieces of legislation.
This law enables me to demand documents and information from every State agency and department so that we can keep tabs on what is being done with your money.
However, the office of the President is immune to the FoI Act.
Through this legislation, I can obtain documents about how much the Taoiseach spent on flights, what the Minister said to the Board of Children’s Health Ireland or what developers said in letters to the Housing Minister.
But I cannot access documents from the President’s office about how much was spent on a garden party.
Shouldn’t the President be held to the same transparency measures as the Taoiseach, Ministers and other State bodies?
JUST HOW WELL DO YOU KNOW CONSTITUTION?
Mostly the President must do what the government of the day says when it comes to dissolving the Dail or green lighting new legislation.
They can sign off on new bills or refer it to the Supreme Court for assessment — although in reality this very rarely ever happens.
Michael D Higgins referred a bill on how judges are appointed to the Supreme Court and considered sending the coalition’s monster Planning Bill to the courts.
Presidents are also supposed to avoid criticising the government of the day or favouring one political party over another during their speeches.
President Higgins tested this convention by addressing and sometimes criticising issues such as housing policy, defence and neutrality policies.
Will the next President use their voice as much as their predecessor?
BLUR OR OASIS?
Politics is a serious game but at the end of the day it’s also a popularity contest.
Candidates have to endear themselves to voters and not every question on the campaign trail can be hard-hitting queries on policy and the Constitution.
I would hate to spend the next few months writing countless boring articles that focus solely on candidates’ opinions on the constitutionality of the role of the President — and I don’t think you would want to read them.
Politicians are people too. Therefore, it’s important we know a bit more about them.
So expect some softer questions from journos that might give a bit of a laugh and also give our talented art desk staff the chance to have a bit of fun while creating mock-ups.
And with the Gallagher brothers dominating August with their upcoming series of sell-out shows in Dublin’s Croke Park, I’ll be looking forward to asking any candidate brave enough to put their name forward for Presidency before then are they Blur or Oasis?
- Have I missed anything? What sort of questions do you readers want to hear our Presidential candidates answer? Get in touch with me and I’ll put them to the runners and riders while we’re out on the campaign trail! Email adam.higgins@the-sun.ie
