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BBC News
4 days ago
- Politics
- BBC News
Irish presidential election: Sinn Féin to meet as Áras race heats up
The Sinn Féin leadership is to meet later to work out a plan for the Irish Presidential party's Ard Chomhairle, made up of its political leaders and delegates from regional branches, is expected to study the findings of an internal consultation on its election have been considering a range of options, including entering the race or supporting an agreed opposition date has yet been set for the presidential election, but it needs to be held before 11 November when Michael D Higgins' 14-year term in office officially Sinn Féin leadership will need to look at four different puzzles to solve its presidential question. Supporting the left-wing unity candidate This was considered the more likely option for Sinn Féin when it began its internal consultation as the party was keen to shore up the unity on the opposition combined forces of the left-wing parties worked well together when challenging the government during the Dáil (lower house of Irish Parliament) speaking rights row earlier in the year. But back then, the independent Senator Frances Black was being tipped as the opposition unity candidate and she would have been a popular choice for Sinn Féin former singer tabled the bill which seeks to ban Irish trade with illegal settlements in Israeli occupied territories, which has the full support of Sinn Fé in June, Black ruled herself out of the presidential independent TD (member of the Dáil) Catherine Connolly is hoping to secure the backing of Sinn Féin and other left-wing could be a test for the Galway TD, who has less of a profile and may struggle to unite the opposition if those parties plan to present themselves as an alternative government in the next election, can they really afford to divide in what could be their first electoral test? Running a Sinn Féin candidate This may now be the prefered path for the party leadership, but it comes with many risks. The last time Sinn Féin fielded a candidate in a presidential election it didn't go party MEP Liadh Ní Riada secured just over 6% of the vote when she challenged Higgins back in was a disastrous showing for the party and raised questions about the leadership a disappointing general election in 2024, Sinn Féin and its leader Mary Lou McDonald can't really afford another poor day at the polls. The personality based nature of a presidential election could also be a concern as it can be a bruising contest for are subjected to more scrutiny across their public and private lives and it can leave long-lasting is also the cost of running a presidential election campaign, estimated to be more than €400,000 (£349,000), coming so soon after the financially draining general the party may consider the prize to be worth the price. Selecting the right candidate This will be the moment of the party is to mount a big challenge then it will likely field its best candidate - its own hasn't ruled herself out of the race, but has much to consider before adding her name to the ballot paperNorthern Ireland's First Minister Michelle O'Neill, who is the party's deputy leader, also remains in the frame along with Donegal TD Pearse names mentioned include former party leader Gerry Adams, who was back in the public eye following his recent successful defamation case against the has the profile, but at 76 may lack the energy for a campaign and could struggle to capture the mood of a changed electorate hoping for a younger head of state. Belfast North MP John Finucane ticks that box, and is considered a credible candidate who is a formidable campaigner and will perform well in the all-important TV he might take some convincing, according to some within the party. Risks for Mary Lou McDonald running for president After a second failed attempt in the 2018 election to enter government, many believed McDonald's days as Sinn Féin leader were last thing she wanted or needed was another poll on the a presidential election could present the party leader with the perfect exit ramp from the political symbolism of a Sinn Féin leader moving into Áras an Uachtaráin (the Irish presidential residence) would be huge for her party, and the campaign for Irish unification would have a new chief cheerleader. But if she ran and lost, it would leave the party and McDonald with a big decision to make - return to the political fold or against contesting the election may be an easier choice for the Sinn Féin president now she has managed to steer the party back up the poll clearly has much more to offer and remains her party's greatest asset, which is why she may stick with the presidential role she knows best. Who else is running for president of Ireland? With the keys to the Áras up for grabs, people from all over the political spectrum will be looking to become the Republic of Ireland's 10th president later this office is a mostly ceremonial roleIn order to be considered a candidate, a person must be an Irish citizen, over 35 and be nominated by at least 20 members of the Oireachtas (Irish Parliament) or four of the 31 local far, Catherine Connolly has announced her bid for the presidency, along with former EU Commissioner Mairead McGuinness, who will contest the election for Fine Gael - a decision set to be ratified by the party in September. The largest party in the Dáil, Fianna Fáil, has not run a presidential candidate since Belfast-born Mary McAleese won the 1997 party is still considering it's Deirdre Heenan has been tipped as a potential candidate for the Social Democratic and Labour Party leader and Foyle MP Colum Eastwood has also not ruled himself out of the Peter Casey, who was born in Londonderry, came second in 2018 with 23.1% of the first preference vote in 2018 and is seeking the nomination once celebrity candidates have also said they are interested in running, with Riverdance star Michael Flatley and MMA fighter Conor McGregor both seeking backers for their respective campaigns.
Irish Independent
22-07-2025
- Politics
- Irish Independent
The Indo Daily: 'Did the Irish fall into a vat of Guinness?' - Washington tells Ireland to ‘sober up' over Occupied Territories Bill
So states the outline of the Occupied Territories Bill, as introduced in 2018 by senator Frances Black. Seven years later, the bill is increasingly the subject of public pressure and debate, as Taoiseach Micheál Martin and Tánaiste Simon Harris continue to address criticism. And it's not just here at home, with a growing number of international political voices chiming in, some in more derogatory fashion than others. US ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee slated the Occupied Territories Bill and told Ireland to "sober up". "Did the Irish fall into a vat of Guinness," he posted on Twitter. The diplomat said the bill was "so stupid" it smacked of "diplomatic intoxication". The Taoiseach stressed that people needed to focus on the ongoing loss of life in Gaza and across the Middle East. Today on The Indo Daily, Fionnán Sheahan is joined by Mary Regan, Political Editor with the Irish Independent and Sunday Independent, and by Tabitha Monahan, Political Reporter with the Irish Independent, to explore the Occupied Territories Bill, and the political flashpoints that underline it.
Irish Post
17-07-2025
- Politics
- Irish Post
US ambassador to Israel tells Ireland to ‘sober up'
A DIPLOMATIC rift has emerged between the US and Ireland following remarks by US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee, who said the Irish should 'sober up.' He went on to criticise Ireland's proposed Occupied Territories Bill (OTB)—legislation that would ban trade with Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories. The bill, introduced by Independent Senator Frances Black and under scrutiny in the Oireachtas since 2018, has gained new momentum amid Israel's ongoing war in Gaza. If passed, it would make Ireland the first EU member state to prohibit trade with goods produced in Israeli settlements deemed illegal under international law. Mike Huckabee, an avowed Christian Zionist and former Arkansas governor, took to social media this week to criticise the bill, calling it 'so stupid' and accusing Ireland of 'diplomatic intoxication.' In a post on X, Huckabee wrote: 'Did the Irish fall into a vat of Guinness and propose something so stupid that it would be attributed to an act of diplomatic intoxication? It will harm Arabs as much as Israelis. Sober up Ireland!' The remarks have drawn immediate backlash for their stereotypical reference to Irish drinking culture. Taoiseach Micheál Martin condemned the ambassador's comments as not only offensive but also dangerously dismissive of the humanitarian crisis unfolding in Gaza. 'I reject the comments made by the ambassador,' Martin said in a press conference. 'This kind of row is ridiculous, given the enormity of the killing and destruction that's happening in Gaza. The slaughter of children must stop. The time for this war to end has long passed.' The Occupied Territories Bill, officially titled the Israeli Settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (Prohibition of Importation of Goods) Bill 2025, aims to prohibit the import of goods and services produced in illegal settlements in the West Bank. The Irish Government has cited international law, including findings by the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which state that Israel's settlement activities and exploitation of Palestinian land are violations of international humanitarian law. TD Duncan Smith highlighted that Israel's actions are not uniquely targeted by Irish foreign policy. He pointed out that Ireland previously passed a similar ban in 2014 regarding trade with Russian-occupied regions in Ukraine. Independent TD Catherine Connolly called on the government to fully implement all aspects of the bill: 'The violation of international law puts an obligation on us to do all we can in the face of genocide and slaughter.' Ireland has a long history of solidarity with the Palestinian people. This was reaffirmed in May 2024 when Ireland formally recognised the State of Palestine. In response, Israel closed its embassy in Dublin and called Ireland's policies 'extremely anti-Israel.' Opposition to the bill has not only come from the US envoy and Israeli officials but also from some figures within Ireland itself. Former Minister for Justice Alan Shatter described the bill as reminiscent of Nazi-era laws, calling it 'the first Boycott Jews bill by a European government since 1945.' However, Committee Chair John Lahart rebuked this accusation, calling it 'hugely hurtful and slanderous.' Irish lawmakers insist that the bill is aimed not at Israel or Jewish people, but rather at illegal settlement's that violate international law. Maurice Cohen, chair of the Jewish Representative Council of Ireland, criticised the bill as a 'performance of misguided effort' that could alienate Jewish communities within Ireland. While largely symbolic, as Taoiseach Martin noted, the bill's passage could strain Ireland's diplomatic relationships, particularly with the US. For many in Ireland, the legislation is a moral imperative in the face of what they see as war crimes and humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza. Nearly 60,000 people have reportedly been killed in Gaza since October 2023. Martin reiterated Ireland's commitment to peace and international law: 'Ireland stands for peace and a political pathway forward… Israel needs to focus on ending the war that is slaughtering innocent civilians.'
RTÉ News
16-07-2025
- Politics
- RTÉ News
US Ambassador to Israel official calls on Ireland to 'sober up' over OTB
The US Ambassador to Israel has criticised the Occupied Territories Bill, calling on Ireland to "sober up". The bill would prohibit trade between Ireland and Israel's illegal settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. It was scrutinised yesterday by the Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and was introduced by Independent Senator Frances Black. Mike Huckabee described the bill as "so stupid" and questioned if it could be attributed to an act of "diplomatic intoxication". "Did the Irish fall into a vat of Guinness," he said in a post on social media platform X. Mr Huckabee said the bill, known as the Israeli Settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories Bill, "will harm Arabs as much as Israelis". He urged Ireland to "call the Israel Foreign Ministry and say you're sorry!" His comments come after the bill was scruntinised at the Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs yesterday during which former minister for justice Alan Shatter likened it to legislation passed in Germany in the 1930s. , and replicated the type of legislation initiated by the Nazis. However, Committee chair John Lahart of Fianna Fáil said that a claim made during the proceedings that the bill is anti-Semitic was "hugely hurtful and slanderous". Labour TD Duncan Smith said there was a failure to recognise that the Israeli settlements in the Palestinian territories are illegal. "That's a fundamental point of divergence," he said, adding Israel was "not the only example of Ireland deploying such a bill". In 2014, he said, an "identical bill was passed in Irish law prohibiting trade in goods and services with Russian-occupied Ukraine".
Times
08-07-2025
- Politics
- Times
Irish presidential election candidates 2025 — who is up for it?
Mairead McGuinness and Catherine Connolly are poised to launch bids for the presidency as both politicians quietly seek support from within Leinster House. McGuinness, a former European commissioner, began contacting her closest supporters last week in an attempt to secure the 50 Fine Gael signatures needed to be formally nominated as a party candidate in the campaign to replace President Higgins in Aras an Uachtarain. Connolly, the independent Galway West TD, has sought support from Independent Ireland and other parties who are in the process of considering potential candidates. An Independent Ireland source said: 'Catherine met with one of our members to seek a nomination, she's a very pleasant lady, everyone likes her. We will have our own parliamentary meeting to discuss things and go from there.' However, party members have also sought to encourage Ciaran Mullooly, Midlands North West MEP, and Michael Fitzmaurice, TD for Roscommon Galway, to consider a run for the Aras. The leaders of Sinn Fein, People Before Profit, Labour and the Social Democrats will meet this week for the third time to consider backing a joint candidate with Connolly as well as Frances Black, the independent senator, the most likely candidates to be discussed. Despite recent statements from Black suggesting that she is not considering an Aras run, left-wing parties believe that she remains 'very interested and open' to the prospect of becoming president. The Fine Gael nomination process will begin on Monday and will close the following week on Tuesday at 4pm. To be nominated, those interested will be required to have 20 signatures from the parliamentary party, 25 Fine Gael councillors and five members of the executive council. Michael O'Leary, the Ryanair boss, announced he would endorse McGuinness in her election campaign, but she may face competition from Seán Kelly, the Ireland South MEP, who told The Sunday Times he remained in 'two minds' about whether he should seek a nomination — although if he did decide to go for it, he would give it '110 per cent'. Kelly said that while he had the necessary characteristics to do the job in terms of respecting the boundaries of the office, representing Ireland overseas and supporting the government, he was considering the impact on his family and his work as an MEP. If he did decide to take on McGuinness and any other Fine Gael candidates that might emerge, there would be a number of hustings held in late July with a postal ballot of members to take place across August. In Fine Gael, the membership contribute 30 per cent of the overall vote, councillors' votes are worth 15 per cent and parliamentary party votes account for 55 per cent. The parliamentary party will vote in one location, and a decision will be taken as to how councillors will vote; either in person or by postal ballot. The result will be announced, and the candidate ratified at an event in early September. No clear candidates have emerged from Fianna Fail. One Fianna Fail minister said their party should not run a candidate unless someone emerged who could win or come close to winning, given the campaign would cost close to €500,000. They said it would cause 'untold grief' for Micheál Martin, the taoiseach, to field a 'losing horse'. A candidate who receives at least one quarter of the quota of votes, based on the single transferable vote system, is entitled to reimbursement of election expenses. The maximum reimbursement allowed is €200,000. The minister also dismissed the idea that there was significant internal support for Peter Power, the Unicef Ireland executive director and former Fianna Fail politician, or Mary Hanafin, the former Fianna Fail minister for education. Hanafin has also been actively seeking support from within the party. Fianna Fail will make a decision in late summer on what would be the first contested presidential election for the party since Mary McAleese in 1997. The election is likely to take place in late October or early November, with the nomination process expected to conclude in late August or early September. Some Fianna Fail TDs strongly advocate for participation, while others believe the party should only field a candidate capable of winning. 'The names currently circulating are unlikely to be the final candidates,' a senior party source said. • Brenda Power: Best candidates know the presidency could bite them in the Aras The party is taking a methodical approach, thoroughly examining the election dynamics before making a final decision. Some are also speculating that Bertie Ahern, the former taoiseach, may run as an independent candidate instead of running under the Fianna Fail banner. Ahern told The Sunday Times he would consider a potential run over the summer and has said anyone interested should announce their intentions in August. He said: 'It's just too early to say. We don't know who is going to be going for it and my line is always 'we'll see where it goes'.' 'I know from over the years that August is the time that people start declaring because the campaign would be September, October time.' He felt recent polls regarding public support for potential candidates were 'meaningless'. He added: 'These are polls that aren't covering all the candidates. Nobody knows what Sinn Fein, Labour or the Social Democrats are doing yet, we'll have to see what they are doing first but later on in the summer, I'll have to put my mind to it. 'I'm focused on staying well and healthy, I have a lot of work that I'm currently involved in too that I need to consider.' Peadar Toibin, the Aontu leader, said that he is in the process of speaking to two potential candidates who are 'seriously considering' running. Joe Duffy, the recently retired RTE Liveline presenter, has said he will not contest the presidential election, ending recent speculation that he was taking time to 'mull over' a possible bid.
