Top ministers tell the President: Don’t go!
…as he says he has ‘never run away from a contest’
A NUMBER of senior Cabinet ministers have lined up to tell the President he has there support to remain on for a second term, as Michael D Higgins says he has ‘never run away from a contest’.
He has yet to formally declare whether he will seek a second term in office, but during a visit to New York yesterday President Higgins gave his strongest indication yet that he intends to do so.
After delivering a keynote speech to the United Nations, Mr Higgins was asked whether there should be a presidential election, as he had indicated previously that he would not seek a second term.
He said: ‘My decision will be my decision. I’m not standing in the way of anybody making a decision. I’ve never run away from a contest in my life. Why should I?’
And yesterday Housing Minister Eoghan Murphy, Education Minister Richard Bruton and Health Minister Simon Harris were effusive in their praise of President Higgins. Mr Murphy said he had a ‘great’ discussion with the President recently.
‘I met the President at the match on Saturday and we had a great chat about certain things that are happening in the world, the day before he went over the UN I think. I think he is doing a fantastic job and I think it will be good to see him staying in that role,’ he said.
Mr Bruton said he has been an admirer of Mr Higgins throughout his political career. He said: ‘I’m a very strong admirer of Michael D, I’ve known him all my political life. And I think he is doing a fantastic job.’
Also rowing in behind the President was Mr Harris who said: ‘I think Michael D Higgins is doing an excellent job and I’d like to see him continue to serve in office, but obviously that is a decision he has to make.’
Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan echoed previous comments that he wants President Higgins to serve a second term. However, not everyone agrees. Independent Senator Gerard Craughwell has expressed his interest in running for the Presidency and has said that when President Higgins campaigned for the office he did so on the basis that he would only serve one term.
If President Higgins opts for a second term, Mr Craughwell said he will seek a nomination to challenge him in an election.
And Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald has said she believes there should be an election as she doesn’t ‘favour this idea that somebody just moves from one term of office into another automatically’.
Should there be an election, she said Sinn Féin would have no problem finding a candidate but ruled out Gerry Adams as being one of them.
The Irish Daily Mail previously revealed that artist Kevin Sharkey was assembling a team to assist him in securing a nomination for the race for the top office.
Leo Varadkar and Micheál Martin have not commented on the matter and are understood to be waiting until President Higgins declares his intentions.
But it is understood Fine Gael MEPs Seán Kelly and Mairéad McGuinness would potentially be interested in the role.
Yet to formally declare intentions Bruton ‘a very strong admirer’