After a stifling start, battle for the Áras finally starts to get interesting
While there were two candidates who we knew would be on the ballot, they had been keeping a low profile for July and the first half of August.
Beyond that, the greatest amount of noise around the election itself had come from candidates who had little to no chance of being anywhere near the ballot itself and whose motivations for wanting to be president were either unclear or misguided.
This meant that the coverage of the election has centred around what might happen, because nothing much was actually happening.
On the Sinn Féin end, the speculation has been around who it might run, if anyone, and for Fianna Fáil, basically any person in the party's orbit has been suggested, short of the ghost of Albert Reynolds.
For Micheál Martin's party, a recent poll suggested that Bertie Ahern was its best bet, topping a list of potential candidates. That is, of course, if you ignore that the former taoiseach commanded just 12% of support in a field that also included political neophytes in Ulster University professor Deirdre Heenan and Ireland's greatest ever target man, Niall Quinn.
Public interest finally ignited
The race itself, however, has finally sparked to life following a chaotic week that has both blown the election open and ignited public interest.
Last Sunday, pharmaceutical entrepreneur Gareth Sheridan announced that he will join the race for the presidency, telling the Sunday Independent that he hoped to make housing and emigration the focal points of his campaign.
However, the largely unknown businessman hasn't upended the status quo as much as he might have liked in a tumultuous first week of the campaign.
By the time his launch came on Thursday, he was already battling multiple fires.
First, it was revealed that Independent senator Sharon Keogan had been helping him to 'canvass support' among 'the independent council block across the country'.
She introduced him to councillors at a conference held in Limerick in April, and they have been in 'regular contact', he said, though he moved to distance himself from her politics.
Ms Keogan has been criticised for comments that suggested there was an 'organised' LGBT+ 'takeover' of society, among other incidents.
Later, the Irish Examiner would reveal that Sheridan's mother, an early director of his Nutriband company, had lodged concerns about a Dublin social housing development 'at the behest of her employer', who was the developer behind the housing project. This was as well as the fact that an investigation by the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) had culminated in a personal fine of $25,000.
This was all before his launch on Thursday, at which Sheridan accused people in the 'inner circle' of his company's ex-chairman and former presidential candidate Sean Gallagher of leaking information to the press about him.
In an extraordinary intervention, Sheridan stated that there had been a 'coordinated attack' on him.
Mairead McGuinness pulled out of the race on Thursday, leaving Fine Gael with no clear candidate.
All of this would have been extraordinary enough, and a suddenly energised political journalist corps was just about getting its head around it when the biggest shock of the entire campaign thus far landed.
With no warning or speculation, the presumptive front-runner and one of only two candidates on the ballot at the moment, Mairead McGuinness quit the race.
A decision taken heavily on medical grounds, a statement said as Fine Gael colleagues reeled.
Ms McGuinness's withdrawal leaves the Fine Gael nomination contest — which never actually happened — back open, but with time at a premium, the party may ask a former minister to dust off their political boots and return to the field.
Heather Humphreys, Simon Coveney, and Frances Fitzgerald were all the immediate names mentioned, though nobody was quick to put their hands up, and Frances Fitzgerald has again ruled herself out.
If a week is a long time in politics, this past seven days have been an age.
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Extra.ie
9 hours ago
- Extra.ie
I married to get a Green Card to the States, admits pharma boss Sheridan
Presidential hopeful Gareth Sheridan has admitted he secured American citizenship as a result of a 'green card' marriage. And if elected Ireland's youngest ever head of State, the millionaire businessman said he has no intention of giving back the citizenship he obtained under controversial circumstances. Describing how he became a US citizen following his campaign launch this week, Mr Sheridan said: 'We got married initially in America, then we had our big ceremony back in Kildare. Our initial wedding was more of a means to stay together – more I would get my Green Card, essentially.' Pressed further about his marriage to his American-born wife Heidi, he replied: 'Yeah exactly, it was solely [to get a Green Card], we would have had to split up. 'Heidi and I were very serious at that point. We said we would jump the gun on what we already discussed would be a wedding in our near future. 'I think absolutely I will hold onto it [American citizenship]. I travel on my Irish passport. I am an Irish person before anything else.' Gareth Sheridan at the Tullamore Show. Pic: Alf Harvey If he were to win, Mr Sheridan would be the first president since Eamon de Valera to have US citizenship. The Dublin-born businessman made the admission in an interview a day after he launched his campaign on Thursday. He is hoping to get on the Presidential ticket by persuading members of four local authorities to nominate him as a candidate. According to the pharma businessman, two people on four local authorities have agreed to propose and second him as a potential candidate, and he claims to have had a favourable response from four other councils. But he will need the approval of four councils to enter the race. Independent Senator Sharon Keogan is helping his campaign. Born on Dublin's southside, Gareth Sheridan grew up in Terenure and was educated at the fee-paying Terenure College. After studying at the Dublin Institute of Technology he emigrated to America, where the father of one made his fortune through his company Nutriband, which developed a range of products using patches to administer vitamins and other medications. Gareth Sheridan with his wife Heidi and daughter Róe at the Tullamore Show canvassing Susan Leonard, from Pettigo, Co Donegal. Pic: Alf Harvey After selling the company, he then rebought the business, and the company has since developed a patch to administer painkillers. However, the company has been linked to controversies, some of which were highlighted this week as Mr Sheridan prepared his Presidential launch. The young businessman and a business partner were both fined $25,000 by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for providing misleading information about some of their company's products. Three associates involved in Mr Sheridan's company – Serguei Melnik, Sergei Glinka, and Vitalie Botgros – have found themselves at the centre of separate corruption investigations in Moldova and Romania. There have also been allegations of money laundering, suitcases of cash, creditors being left without their money and threats to national security. Mr Melnick was a shareholder in a company that took over the Republic of Maldova's flag carrier, Air Moldova. But after the deal went through, the Moldovan equivalent of the Criminal Assets Bureau seized the assets of both firms amid claims of 'large scale money laundering' and 'fictional transactions'. Mr Melnick is currently at the helm of Nutriband while his business partner is on the campaign trail to become Ireland's next President. It has also been reported that authorities in Romania are investigating their colleague, Sergei Glinka, over a deal that may pose national security concerns. Both Mr Glinka and Mr Botgros worked for a now-sanctioned Russian railway company called Makhmudov, which has been linked to the sanctioned Russian billionaire, Iskander Makhmudov. Asked about his three associates who have found themselves at the centre of various corruption probes and allegations, Mr Sheridan first defended them by claiming their backgrounds had been checked by various regulators. Gareth with his wife Heidi and daughter Roe. Pic: Instagram @gareth_sheridan But he was unable to give assurances that he did thorough background checks on his business associates. And when asked if the three men, who have a major stake in his company, are 'squeaky clean', the millionaire replied: 'Well, I don't know' – before adding: 'If the narrative is that I have some sort of Russian ties, it's absolutely 100% categorically false. I'm saying [I'm] nowhere near it – 100%, not tied to any of that. I'm getting [described as] 'Russian stooge' in one sentence and 'MAGA [Make America Great Again] enthusiast' on the next. 'I mean, that doesn't mesh very well, but I'm a proud Irishman who wants to do a good job and that's what I am.' Mr Sheridan moved back to Ireland with his wife Heidi and the couple's adopted daughter Roe in February after deciding late last year to put himself forward as a candidate to succeed President Michael D Higgins. Despite making housing his campaign pitch for the Áras, the 35-year-old admitted he does not have a solution of how to solve the crises that bedevilled successive governments. 'Well, I don't have the answers to it right now. Collectively, as a country, we need to bring in more voices on it, particularly the younger generations. 'Wouldn't it be a beautiful thing if the younger generations' energy, enthusiasm and entrepreneurship was involved and paired with all the experience of the older generations?' Asked why he is seeking the ceremonial role of President rather than trying to make a difference on the ground by contesting local or Dáil elections, he replied: 'I'm not a politician. It depends on how you look at it – what I'm trying to do is encourage younger participation. If they feel they have a figurehead that they can relate to and represents them. 'One person going into the Dáil, if it was me – to try and enact changes doesn't happen, but encouraging a whole generation of people to now pick up interest and feel like they have a voice, then we're setting a movement.'
Irish Times
11 hours ago
- Irish Times
Dropping cost-of-living measures is key pre-budget minefield for Government to navigate
What happens when the once-off cost-of-living measures people have become accustomed to over a series of giveaway budgets suddenly stop, as is expected this year? The Government has already got a taste of the anger that can ensue. After Minister for Higher Education James Lawless signalled that €1,000 cuts to third-level student fees seen in recent years may not be repeated on budget day there was a backlash. It caused not just a political storm, but also led to a flood of written complaints from parents and others to the Fianna Fáil minister in the days after his remarks during a radio interview at the end of June. Here's a flavour of the reaction: A mother of two students wrote that she was 'absolutely appalled' at the possibility the fees would revert to €3,000, saying that was 'massive to the squeezed middle'. She added: 'Why are ye crucifying us? Why?' READ MORE 'A national disgrace' thundered another parent. 'Six votes in my house will be going elsewhere [in] the next election if it is not overturned.' [ Student fees: Minister gets barrage of complaints after suggesting €1,000 cut may not happen Opens in new window ] There were many more in a similar vein. While a spokesman for Lawless stressed he is 'acutely aware of the financial pressures facing students and families' and will be 'fighting hard' for budget measures that reduce the cost of education, it remains to be seen what these measures will be come budget day in October. In one sense it should be no surprise that the once-off measures – brought in as part of recent budgets to respond to rampant inflation and a cost-of-living crisis – are to end; it was flagged by sources within the Government less than two weeks after its formation at the start of the year. Throughout the year senior Coalition figures stated publicly there would be no once-off measures amid the need to reign in spending in the face of huge economic uncertainty over US tariffs on EU (including Irish) goods. In late July in the summer economic statement an overall package of €9.4 billion was announced as being available for spending increases (€7.9 billion) and tax cuts (€1.5 billion) in the budget. Will the Government's big projects survive the next downturn? Listen | 36:20 There has been no talk since by those who control the purse-strings in Government of topping this up with billions in once-off measures as previously happened. But 'once-off' is also a complete misnomer as many of the payments were repeated in some form over three budgets. And getting rid of them in one fell swoop is fraught with political risk. The pre-election budget last year featured a €2.2 billion cost-of-living package including two €125 electricity credits and multiple double welfare payments and lump sums. These included extra payments of the fuel allowance, disability allowance and working family payments. For parents there were two double child benefit payments at the end of 2024 and other measures included reductions in school transport fees and State exam fee waivers. If such measures must be dropped, it makes sense politically to do this at the start of a government's term with an election expected to be years away. However, doing so also has the potential to create divisions within the Coalition, as happened with the student fees controversy of recent weeks. More importantly though, there is the anger that scrapping once-off payments may well spark among the public. Meanwhile, with many costs, such as food and energy, still high the Government can be sure Opposition parties will seek to exploit any public dissatisfaction after budget day. Sinn Féin has already made demands for a cost-of-living package a running theme in public statements over the summer. It appears the Government is not for Finance Paschal Donohoe was asked about people in arrears with electricity bills during a visit to Clonmel, Co Tipperary, this week. He said such issues will be considered as the budget approaches. But he also reiterated: 'We will not be bringing forward the kind of one-off measures that we've had in the past.' [ Paschal Donohoe defends decision not to repeat cost-of-living payments in upcoming budget Opens in new window ] He added the Government is 'very conscious that the cost of living continues to be a challenge for so many', but said: 'We now need to ensure that measures that we bring forward, in light of the economic uncertainty that is there, are ones that we can afford and ones that will be sustainable.' He advised people having difficulty paying bills to engage with electricity suppliers on measures such as alternative payment plans. His stance appears to be at one with Minister for Public Expenditure Jack Chambers who said last month that, rather than once-off payments, Budget 2026 would be about decisions on 'permanent', 'sustainable' and targeted measures that 'protect the most vulnerable'. Chambers indicated that the social protection system will still be used to help the least well-off in the budget. Indeed it would be highly surprising if increases in the State pension and other welfare payments – as in recent years – do not feature in the upcoming budget even in the absence of once-off measures. On the tax side, scope for income-tax cuts is likely to be limited by proposals to bring in VAT reductions for the hospitality industry at some point next year. Dropping once-off measures – and what will be done to ease their loss in people's pockets – is the key political minefield the Government must navigate as budget preparations ramp up from the end of August. Lower-income households will have to be protected but ministers will also have to remember – as the student fees controversy showed – that hell hath no fury like a voter scorned.
Irish Examiner
a day ago
- Irish Examiner
Seán Kelly says he is reconsidering Fine Gael nomination for presidential election
Sean Kelly is reconsidering seeking a nomination to run for president, the Fine Gael MEP has said. The party is re-entering a nomination process for the Áras an Uachtaráin posting, after Mairead McGuinness withdrew from the race on health grounds weeks after securing the party's backing. Former Fine Gael minister Heather Humphreys, who was also previously deputy leader of the party, is also considered to be in the running for the nomination. Heather Humphreys (Brian Lawless/PA) Mr Kelly told Newstalk on Saturday that he had waited to make a statement on the matter. 'My complete sympathy is with Mairead McGuinness. We worked together in the European Parliament for a good number of years 'She was all set to put in a tremendous campaign and hopefully be elected as president. 'I didn't want to say anything, I think she needed the time and space.' Fine Gael will consider the election in the coming days through a meeting of its executive council. Mr Kelly said: 'But obviously the goalposts have changed and you have to definitely reconsider.' He said he did not seek a nomination last time, but added he would 'reconsider very carefully' and 'weigh up all the options' before making a decision. He added that anyone who enters any race had to be 'in it to win it'. Mr Kelly said he wanted to see what Fine Gael's executive believed would be best for the party and country, as well as consider what would be best for his own family. Pressed on whether Ms Humphreys had the backing of the party already, he said he did not think discussions had reached that stage. 'There's no rush, let's take it as it comes.' Elsewhere in the race, independent TD Catherine Connolly has secured the backing of Labour, the Social Democrats, People Before Profit and a range of other independents. Catherine Connolly (Brian Lawless/PA) Fianna Fáil and Sinn Féin have yet to decide if they will field a candidate. Fianna Fáil minister Jim O'Callaghan offered reaction to Ms McGuinness's decision to RTÉ News: 'I wish her well in the future. It's a campaign that's getting exciting – as one would expect as we head towards September.' Meanwhile, Nutriband entrepreneur Gareth Sheridan is among hopefuls seeking a nomination. A presidential election is expected towards the end of October, as it must take place in the 60 days before the term of Michael D Higgins ends on November 11. To be eligible to run, a candidate must be an Irish citizen who is 35 or older. They must be nominated either by at least 20 members of the Oireachtas or at least four local authorities. Former or retiring presidents can nominate themselves.
