Latest news with #Irish politics
Irish Times
19 hours ago
- Politics
- Irish Times
McAleese was ‘extremely generous' with time she gave to British, newly released UK papers show
Former president Mary McAleese was highly regarded for her political analysis and 'extremely generous' with her time to the British, newly released UK state files have shown. The former British ambassador to Ireland, Ivor Roberts, wrote a glowing report about a meeting with McAleese in 2001 where he described her as being 'at her frank and engaging best'. 'She does not shrink from political or religious engagement in private and occasionally in public too, in a way which occasionally lands her in trouble,' he wrote. 'She has, however, captured the affection of the Irish people which makes her fairly fireproof here and her warmth and bravery are widely (and rightly) admired. I've always found her an exceptionally good analyst of the political scene North and South and I hope to continue to draw on her experience. She is also extremely generous with her time.' READ MORE During the two-hour breakfast meeting, the president criticised the then Labour leader Ruairí Quinn, with Mr Roberts reporting that he had an 'absolute disaster' on The Late Late Show in a debate with Gerry Adams . 'He had failed to land a single punch on Adams and had come over in an unsympathetic and uncharismatic way, in marked contrast to the Sinn Féin President, who had attracted round after round of applause,' wrote Mr Roberts. She said that Mr Quinn had gifted Sinn Féin a seat in north Kerry, unless Dick Spring stood. 'McAleese said that she was in despair at the way that Adams had got off scot free at Quinn's hands.' When she questioned her children about their view of the debate afterwards, Mr Adams's only 'false note' was the mention of a socialist state. 'She had found herself, in frustration, shouting questions at the television which Quinn should have been putting to Adams,' wrote Mr Roberts. There was also a discussion of a State visit of Queen Elizabeth II to Ireland, which Ms McAleese said would be warmly received. It would be another 10 years before the queen would visit Ireland. 'Beneath the antagonism to the British monarchy, the reality was that there was a keen interest in and affection for the monarchy which would be brought out during a state visit as had been shown in the enthusiastic reception of Prince Andrew at Kinsale a few weeks ago,' Mr Roberts reported her as saying.
Irish Times
2 days ago
- Politics
- Irish Times
Presidential race: Party ‘open to meeting' Tony Holohan and Michael Flatley on nominations
Independent Ireland is open to talking to former chief medical officer (CMO) Tony Holohan and Irish dancing star Michael Flatley , should they seek nominations from Oireachtas members to enter the presidential election , party leader Michael Collins has said. Meanwhile, former Fianna Fáil minister Mary Hanafin, who has expressed an interest in running herself, said at the weekend it would be 'an insult' to the office of the presidency if her party does not run a candidate . Last week saw the presidential election race heat up. The first declared candidates – former European Commissioner and Fine Gael MEP Mairead McGuinness and Independent TD Catherine Connolly – emerged in the battle to succeed President Michael D Higgins. READ MORE [ Mairead McGuinness leads the field in a list of potential presidential election candidates, poll shows Opens in new window ] A report in the Irish Mail on Sunday suggested that Mr Holohan is preparing to launch a bid to become president. The newspaper quoted him as neither confirming or denying this. Last night, Mr Holohan, who became the public face of the State's response to the Covid-19 pandemic, told The Irish Times: 'I have nothing further to add to this story as yet'. Separately Lord of the Dance star Mr Flatley did not rule himself out of seeking a nomination to run for the presidency. Mr Flatley suggested on RTÉ Radio 1 that he may run 'if I thought that I could be of benefit to the Irish people' . Those wishing to secure a place on the presidential election ballot paper must secure nominations from 20 Oireachtas members or four local authorities. Independent Ireland leader Mr Collins expressed an openness to hearing from Mr Holohan and Mr Flatley should they approach his party seeking nominations. Independent Ireland have four TDs and Mr Collins said 'those four votes could be vital to some candidate'. He said: 'We haven't signed for anybody as of yet.' He said the party had already met three individuals in relation to the presidency – businessman Declan Ganley, Ms Connolly, and another person who wants to remain private for now. Mr Collins said: 'We'd be open to meeting everyone that wants to have a discussion with us' while 'they have to have a realistic chance' and prove they have 16 other votes. Fianna Fáil minister for Public Expenditure Jack Chamber's said he was not aware of any engagements between his party and Mr Holohan when asked about the former CMO on RTÉ radio. He also said Fianna Fáil was 'assessing its options' on the presidential election when asked if he agreed with the view expressed by Ms Hanafin at the Patrick MacGill Summer School that it would be 'an insult' to the office of the presidency if her party did not contest the election. She told those present: 'I firmly believe that the largest party of the country, which is the largest at local level, largest at national level, should be running'. Ms Hanafin has made clear her desire to run for Fianna Fáil but is yet to receive public support from senior party figures. Mr Chambers said Fianna Fáil is listening to its members and will make a decision on the presidential election in early autumn.
Irish Times
2 days ago
- Politics
- Irish Times
Independent Ireland open to talking to Holohan and Flatley should they seek presidential nominations
Independent Ireland is open to talking to former chief medical officer (CMO) Tony Holohan and Irish dancing star Michael Flatley , should they seek nominations from Oireachtas members to enter the presidential election , party leader Michael Collins has said. Meanwhile, former Fianna Fáil minister Mary Hanafin, who has expressed an interest in running herself, said at the weekend it would be 'an insult' to the office of the presidency if her party does not run a candidate . Last week saw the presidential election race heat up. The first declared candidates – former European Commissioner and Fine Gael MEP Mairead McGuinness and Independent TD Catherine Connolly – emerged in the battle to succeed President Michael D Higgins. READ MORE [ Mairead McGuinness leads the field in a list of potential presidential election candidates, poll shows Opens in new window ] A report in the Irish Mail on Sunday suggested that Mr Holohan is preparing to launch a bid to become president. The newspaper quoted him as neither confirming or denying this. Last night, Mr Holohan, who became the public face of the State's response to the Covid-19 pandemic, told The Irish Times: 'I have nothing further to add to this story as yet'. Separately Lord of the Dance star Mr Flatley did not rule himself out of seeking a nomination to run for the presidency. Mr Flatley suggested on RTÉ Radio 1 that he may run 'if I thought that I could be of benefit to the Irish people' . Those wishing to secure a place on the presidential election ballot paper must secure nominations from 20 Oireachtas members or four local authorities. Independent Ireland leader Mr Collins expressed an openness to hearing from Mr Holohan and Mr Flatley should they approach his party seeking nominations. Independent Ireland have four TDs and Mr Collins said 'those four votes could be vital to some candidate'. He said: 'We haven't signed for anybody as of yet.' He said the party had already met three individuals in relation to the presidency – businessman Declan Ganley, Ms Connolly, and another person who wants to remain private for now. Mr Collins said: 'We'd be open to meeting everyone that wants to have a discussion with us' while 'they have to have a realistic chance' and prove they have 16 other votes. Fianna Fáil minister for Public Expenditure Jack Chamber's said he was not aware of any engagements between his party and Mr Holohan when asked about the former CMO on RTÉ radio. He also said Fianna Fáil was 'assessing its options' on the presidential election when asked if he agreed with the view expressed by Ms Hanafin at the Patrick MacGill Summer School that it would be 'an insult' to the office of the presidency if her party did not contest the election. She told those present: 'I firmly believe that the largest party of the country, which is the largest at local level, largest at national level, should be running'. Ms Hanafin has made clear her desire to run for Fianna Fáil but is yet to receive public support from senior party figures. Mr Chambers said Fianna Fáil is listening to its members and will make a decision on the presidential election in early autumn.
Times
3 days ago
- Politics
- Times
Mary Lou McDonald or Catherine Connolly for president? Sinn Fein can't decide
Sinn Fein members are split over whether the party should put its leader, Mary Lou McDonald, forward as a presidential candidate in the forthcoming election. The Sinn Fein ard comhairle, which is the party's governing body, is expected to discuss presidential plans at a meeting this month, but senior figures believe the majority of members favour backing a candidate of the left rather than McDonald. While the majority of Sinn Fein TDs who spoke to The Sunday Times said they believed backing a candidate of the left was the most likely outcome, there was a significant minority who felt McDonald should put her name forward. Party sources believe if the preferences of the parliamentary party were tallied, there would be a 65 per cent to 35 per cent split in favour of backing a candidate agreed by the left, such as Catherine Connolly, the left-wing independent who formally launched her campaign last week. Others believed it would be closer to 60 per cent against McDonald running, and 40 per cent in favour of it. 'There is a split there on the wider question of whether we should run our own candidate or not. There are a lot of people within the parliamentary party who think we should support Catherine Connolly,' a Sinn Fein source said. 'Having said that, the argument is being made that from the perspective of what we are trying to achieve, a united Ireland, this would be a great opportunity to further that, and that we would be mad not to take it.' The senior party member said Connolly was a good choice because of her track record on social issues and pointed to her opposition to the family and care referendums. 'She was bang on when she expressed her concerns and we were really caught out there,' the source said. • Irish presidential election candidates 2025 — who is up for it? 'We are also trying to make an argument to the electorate that there is a bloc there on the left, among the opposition, who could work together and form a government after the next general election, and backing Catherine would really help that argument.' A second source said some TDs argued McDonald would make a formidable candidate. 'If we were to run someone, realistically it would have to be Michelle O'Neill [the Stormont first minister] or Mary Lou,' they said. 'If Mary Lou ran, she would wipe the floor in debates and sweep up votes across the board. It would be a good moment for the party.' Among the grassroots of the party, however, there are sharper opinions. One local rural party member said they believed there was 'no way' McDonald would run and that the conversation was not one grounded in reality. Another grassroots member said that in the course of the party's internal consultations on the presidency, it was never once suggested that McDonald could be the party's candidate and that the debate had been started by the media. Although members of the ard comhairle are expected to discuss the plans at the end of this month, it is likely Sinn Fein will wait until August to announce its intentions. Connolly, the independent Galway West TD, formally announced her candidacy last week and said she would welcome the backing of Sinn Fein. She said she believed a united Ireland was on the cards 'soon' in comments widely viewed as an attempt to woo Sinn Fein. Connolly also made a presentation to the Labour Party last week in an effort to win the support of its TDs. Labour is planning to launch a consultative process with its membership before coming to a final position. Fine Gael has nominated Mairead McGuinness, the former European commissioner, as its candidate. Her name will officially be put forward for ratification at an event in September, and this will mark the start of her presidential election campaign. 'Subject to my candidacy being ratified by the party in early September, I very much look forward to setting out my vision,' McGuinness said.
