We should have en election even if President Higgins wants to continue

AFTER much media speculation, RTE presenter Miriam O’Callaghan came out before the weekend to rule herself out as a candidate for the Presidency.

Perhaps it wasn’t the media who were clamouring for Miriam in the Áras, perhaps it was the betting firms who were looking to generate publicity for their online betting apps who put her name forward and elements of the media picked up on their odds.

However the speculation all comes down to the fact that the seven-year term of President Michael D Higgins is coming to an end and he has been reticent to declare whether or not he will seek a second term.

During the 2011 President Higgins stated that he would be a one term President and would not seek a second term.

However it is believed that he has changed his thinking on the matter and is poised to announce over the coming months that he will seek a second term.

There is nothing wrong with any person changing their mind and certainly you could not criticise anything the President has done during his time as our first citizen. He has represented us all with dignity, honour and grace both at home and abroad, with his speech to the a joint session of the Houses of Commons and Lords a particular highpoint.

Yet if indeed he has changed his mind, it will be interesting to hear the thinking behind his decision.

If he does indeed decide to seek a second term, it will be interesting to see if an election will be required.

Former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern has been mooted as a candidate and it is clear that he is interested in the position, stating that he would run as an independent candidate rather than on a Fianna Fail ticket.

Yet he too has ruled himself out of any election contest against President Higgins, believing him to be unbeatable.

A number of senators have expressed a desire to have an election, believing it to be the best democratic option.

Certainly it is preferable to have an election than not.

The Presidency is the highest office in the land. We have been fortunate to have high calibre persons in the post and certainly since Mary Robinson and then Mary McAleese the profile of the presidency has risen considerably.

Not to have an election would be a mistake and that is not to lessen the value or contribution of President Michael D Higgins who has served us very well since 2011.

HE HAS REPRESENTED US ALL WITH DIGNITY, HONOUR AND GRACE BOTH AT HOME AND ABROAD