Latest news with #MairéadMcGuinness
Extra.ie
4 days ago
- Politics
- Extra.ie
Who is the new favourite for President with Mairead McGuinness OUT?
Mairéad McGuinness has dropped out of the race for the Irish Presidential election. The former EU Commissioner and favourite to win the race, Ms McGuinness, has cited health reasons for her decision and disclosed that she was hospitalised last week. With Ms McGuinness withdrawing, the race has since been blown open — with former Mayor of Galway and Leas Ceann Comhairle Catherine Connolly emerging as the new favourite. Mairéad McGuinness has dropped out of the race for the Irish Presidential election. Pic:Ms Connolly, a Galway West TD, is now the only official candidate — with her having support from a number of left-leaning parties and independents including People Before Profit and the Social Democrats. Paddy Power have since placed Ms Connolly's odds of becoming President at 10/11, while Fine Gael's Seán Kelly — who was also expected to compete with Ms McGuinness before he himself dropped out — has also re-entered the betting pool, with his odds standing at 9/4 at the time of writing. Mr Kelly has not responded to potentially re-seeking the nomination following his colleague's departure from the race, saying at the time of his own decision not to seek the nomination that he ultimately decided against it after weighing up the pros and cons of taking on the job. Catherine Connolly, who is the only official nominee at the time of writing, has seen the odds of her winning the election go to 10/11 — making her the favourite. Pic: Eamonn Farrell/ While Fianna Fáil have yet to confirm who their candidate will be, many are speculating that former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern will be their nomination — with the odds of him replacing Michael D Higgins standing at 5/1. Similarly, Sinn Féin have not announced who their nominee will be or if they will run one at all — but after Mary Lou McDonald refused to rule herself out of the nomination, her odds have been slashed to 11/2. A number of potential candidates have also expressed their interest in running for the office, although the odds of them getting the keys to the Áras are slim — with Michael Flatley, who confirmed he's seeking a nomination, coming in at 18/1. Other potential nominees include former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern (pictured), former CMO Dr Tony Holohan and 2018 runner-up Peter Casey. Pic: Gareth Chaney/Collins Former Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan, who's also reportedly seeking the nomination, is a rank outsider, with Paddy Power having his odds of being the next President at 25/1, while pharmaceutical executive Gareth Sheridan, who's looking to be the youngest Presidential nominee ever, has seen his odds tumble from 22/1 when he initially announced his intentions to 50/1 at the time of writing. Former nominee and 2018 runner-up Peter Casey is currently 66/1, with other potential nominees standing at those odds including former Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams and GAA pundit Joe Brolly. Announcing her decision on Thursday (August 14), Ms McGuinness said that she was pulling out on health grounds, and had stayed in hospital last week. 'I have made the very difficult decision to withdraw my name as the Fine Gael nominee for the Presidential election,' Ms McGuinness said in a statement. 'This decision is not lightly taken and follows a stay in hospital last week. 'My priority now is my health. Given that the election is in a short couple of months, I do not believe that I have the strength to give the campaign my all.'
Irish Times
5 days ago
- Health
- Irish Times
Covid, CervicalCheck and the Trinity job: questions for Tony Holohan if he launches a presidential run
As a public servant, Prof Tony Holohan found himself in an extraordinary position, thrown into the limelight as chief medical officer and the public face of the State's efforts to address the Covid pandemic. He is now pondering a tilt at the highest public office, that of president . Following a poll that suggests he would have 15 per cent support behind Mairéad McGuinness (29) Catherine Connolly (22) and Mary Lou McDonald (20) in a notional field of five, he described the results as 'encouraging'. Should he decide to run, his campaign will meet some challenges, however, and he will face questions on a number of issues from his past. CervicalCheck scandal This erupted following the 2018 verdict in a court case taken by the late Vicky Phelan . READ MORE The controversy centred on the failure to notify 206 women who subsequently developed cervical cancer about smear tests they had taken previously, which were 'false negatives'. At an Oireachtas health committee meeting that year, Holohan rejected calls for him to stand down after it emerged he had not informed then minister Leo Varadkar or his successor Simon Harris about the HSE's decision not to inform the women of their negative results. He said he had done nothing wrong. 'If I escalate every potential risk I am aware of, all risks I am aware of, I wouldn't be doing my job,' he said. 'I stand over the advice I gave, I made professional judgments.' When the issue was raised during a Covid Nphet (National Public Health Emergency Team) briefing in 2021, he said the failure to give information to women 'simply should not have happened'. But he stressed it did not affect the clinical management of their cases because it was after their diagnosis was made. In his 2023 memoir We Need To Talk, he said: 'The harsh truth is that it is never possible to eliminate that risk from a cervical screening programme… what has emerged post CervicalCheck is a widespread belief that every false negative is negligent.' Covid pandemic With the outbreak of Covid, the lockdown and the grim daily press conferences by Nphet that gripped the nation, Holohan became the most recognised face in the State. In a measured voice, he persuaded the public to accept swingeing lockdown restrictions. Cases of the virus declined, he held hero status for some and he was made a freeman of Dublin. The high take-up of Covid vaccines was put down to trust in Holohan and his officials. The Republic was among the countries with a lower number of deaths from Covid – but there was anger over the number of nursing home deaths and the State's treatment of the elderly in care. As the crisis lengthened, there were rows with government, the public grew weary of the pandemic and the misery it was inflicting and his superhero status lost its gloss. The biggest public row was with then taoiseach Leo Varadkar, who harshly criticised a Nphet recommendation in October 2020 that the entire State should go to the most severe lockdown. Varadkar went on television criticising Nphet, saying the recommendation had been 'landed' on the government and it was not 'thought through'. Following a meeting, a level-three restriction was instead agreed. Holohan was also involved in disputes over antigen tests, ventilation and mask-wearing policy. He urged the government not to provide subsidised antigen tests, fearing the tests could be used incorrectly by people and result in more, instead of fewer, cases. Critics claimed his resistance to the use of antigen tests delayed the lifting of restrictions. He also said face coverings are not a 'magic shield' to protect against Covid-19, after Varadkar announced people would be advised to wear face coverings on public transport and in retail shops when the first phase of restrictions was lifted. Honohan said he understood there were 'differing perspectives on how major public health crises are managed' and 'throughout my career in public service I've always done my utmost to act on the best public health and scientific evidence available'. Perhaps, however, the biggest challenge he faces is a public that may not wish to be reminded of what he himself described as 'a time of extraordinary crisis for our nation'. Secondment to Trinity College In 2022 Holohan was due to take up a secondment to the role of professor of public health strategy and leadership at Trinity College Dublin (TCD). This was abandoned after it emerged the post was to be an open-ended secondment, funded by the Department of Health via the Health Research Board, and the post was created by TCD with Holohan in mind and was not put out to open competition. A subsequent report found that Holohan should not have been 'exclusively personally involved in the negotiation of research funding linked to his possible secondment'. Holohan r etired from public service in April 2022 . He held the position of adjunct full professor of public health at UCD, which was not remunerated. In April 2024 he was awarded an adjunct professor title at TCD's school of medicine. Labour backs Connolly, and Flatley jumps the shark Listen | 50:26
Agriland
30-04-2025
- Business
- Agriland
Mairéad McGuinness elected to vice president role in EPP
Former European Commissioner, Mairéad McGuinness has been elected to a vice president position in the European People's Party (EPP). McGuinness was elected at the EPP's congress in Valencia, Spain, where the newly formed EPP farmers group held it's inaugural meeting. Fine Gael MEP, Nina Carberry said the meeting marks 'a key step in shaping the group's position ahead of the EU's next long-term budget, due to be published in July'. Carberry also welcomed the appointment of McGuinness as a vice president of the EPP. She said: 'I'm absolutely delighted for Mairéad. Her years of outstanding service have been duly recognised. This new role ensures Ireland remains influential at the heart of European decision-making. 'The EPP is the party of European and Irish farmers. A well-funded Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) must stay central to the EU's next long-term budget.' 'As Ireland's only MEP on the European Parliament's Budget Committee, I'm fighting to protect ring-fenced CAP funding,' she added. Mairéad McGuinness The EPP farmers group was conceived in March, 2025, and claims it is dedicated to shaping EU policy rural issues, with a focus on generational renewal, support for young farmers, and reducing bureaucratic burdens. The group brings together EPP members of the European Parliament, many agricultural ministers from across the EU, as well as mayors and local councillors from the committee of the regions. 'We must make sure rural life is always a viable and attractive option, especially for young people,' Carberry said. Carberry stressed that food security is a 'core part' of Europe's geopolitical resilience and called for stronger, more predictable supports for farmers. The MEP claims she is also pushing back against proposals for a 'one nation plan per member state' approach in the next long-term EU budget, and warns it could weaken CAP's effectiveness. With the Agricultural Simplification Package due in May, Carberry has called for more certainty. 'This package must deliver less red tape and more accessible supports. Farmers need fewer forms and more certainty,' she said.
Business Post
29-04-2025
- Politics
- Business Post
Mairéad McGuinness in line for significant EU party role
Politics Mairéad McGuinness in line for significant EU party role The former EU commissioner has not yet confirmed whether she will run for the Irish presidency later this year Sarah Collins 18:01 Mairéad McGuinness, the former MEP, is in line for a significant role in Europe. Picture: Lukasz Kobus
