Overview
To qualify, candidates must:
be a citizen of the state
be over 35 years of age
be nominated by:
At least twenty serving members of the Oireachtas (parliament), or
At least four county or city councils, or
Him- or herself, in the case of an incumbent or former president who has served one term.
Method and date of election
Presidential elections are conducted under the Presidential Elections Act 1993, as amended. Constitutionally, the election must be held not more than 60 days before the ending of the term of office of the incumbent, or within 60 days of the office becoming vacant. On 27 July the government announced that the election would be held on 27 October 2011. An order was made on 30 August by the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government declaring 28 September to be the last day on which nominations may be received. If a member of the Oireachtas or a county or city council nominates more than one candidate, only the first nomination paper received from them will be deemed valid.
In the event that more than one candidate is nominated, the election will be conducted by instant-runoff voting. Although the constitution calls the system "proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote", a single-winner election cannot be proportional. The election does, however, use the ranked choice ballot that is also used in elections to Ireland's parliament by proportional representation. All Irish citizens entered on the current electoral register will be eligible to vote. If there is only a single candidate they will be deemed elected without a poll.
Candidates
There are seven candidates contesting the presidential election, having been selected by their parties or having received sufficient council nominations. This is the largest number of candidates to contest an Irish presidential election.
Mary Davis, social entrepreneur, disability rights campaigner and best known as organiser of the 2003 Special Olympics World Summer Games in Ireland, was nominated by local Councils.
Seán Gallagher, entrepreneur and panellist on the Dragons' Den television programme and former member of the Fianna Fáil National Executive, was nominated by local Councils.
Michael D. Higgins, former Minister and TD was selected by the Labour Party.
Martin McGuinness, deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland was selected by Sinn Féin, and received enough support from independent TDs to be nominated.
Gay Mitchell, MEP and former TD was selected by Fine Gael.
David Norris, Senator, scholar and civil rights campaigner, was nominated by local Councils.
Dana Rosemary Scallon, former MEP, was nominated by local Councils.
Nomination campaign
Following the general election in February 2011, and the election of the Members of the 24th Seanad, only three political parties had the minimum 20 members of Oireachtas to nominate a candidate: Fine Gael (76 TDs and 19 senators), the Labour Party (37 TDs and 13 senators) and Fianna Fáil (19 TDs and 14 senators). Sinn Féin, the next largest party in the Dáil Éireann, have 14 TDs and 3 senators. For other candidates to be nominated, support from members of smaller parties, independents (of which there are currently 14 TDs and 11 senators) or excess members of the three larger parties was needed, or the support of four local authorities.
Fine Gael
Gay Mitchell, MEP for the Dublin constituency and former TD for Dublin South Central was chosen as the Fine Gael candidate at a special convention held on 9 July 2011. He announced that he would be seeking the party's nomination in June 2011, having been contacted by "a large number of senior figures in the party".Voting was by secret ballot, with an electoral college consisting of the Fine Gael parliamentary party (TDs, Senators and MEPs) with 70% of the vote, county and city councillors (20%) and the twelve-member executive council (10%).
Three others sought the nomination:
Pat Cox, former President of the European Parliament and former Progressive Democrats/Independent MEP. Early in June 2011, press reports indicated that Cox, who had stated his desire to stand as an independent candidate, was seeking to join Fine Gael to be eligible for the party's nomination. His application to join the party was accepted by Fine Gael's National Executive Committee on 14 June. He launched his campaign for the Fine Gael nomination on 17 June 2011, describing it as a "one-shot opportunity" and that if he failed to be nominated by the party he would not stand as an independent. Cox was claimed by the Irish Independent to be the preferred choice of Taoiseach Enda Kenny and the Fine Gael leadership.
Avril Doyle, former MEP and TD. On 21 June 2011, she announced her candidacy. She withdrew from the contest on 7 July stating that she realised she was unlikely to receive the nomination.
Mairead McGuinness, MEP for the East constituency, former presenter of Ear to the Ground on RTÉ One and former journalist with the Irish Independent. She announced her bid for the Fine Gael nomination in April 2011.
In March 2011, Fine Gael produced a shortlist of three candidates: John Bruton, Seán Kelly and Mairead McGuinness. Bruton, a former Taoiseach and European Union Ambassador, ruled himself out of the contest on 28 May 2011. Kelly, an MEP and former President of the Gaelic Athletic Association indicated on 1 June 2011 that he would not be seeking the party's nomination, and wished to continue serving in the European Parliament. The party approached Nobel laureate poet Seamus Heaney in late 2010, but Heaney declined to stand unless he was an agreed cross-party candidate.
On the announcement that Mitchell had won the nomination, the Irish Independent stated that Kenny was seen to slump and "could barely contain his disappointment." When questioned by a journalist on his apparent disappointment, Kenny responded sharply "Am I supposed to be going around grinning like a Cheshire Cat at everything?"
Labour Party
The Labour Party candidate is Michael D. Higgins. He was chosen jointly by the party's National Executive and the Labour Parliamentary Party at a special convention on 19 June 2011.
The former TD and Minister, and current Labour Party president, originally indicated that he was interested in receiving the party's nomination in September 2010. Like Higgins, two other candidates put their names forward in late May 2011:
Fergus Finlay, Chief Executive of Barnardo's children's charity, announced on 9 September 2010 that he would seek the Labour Party's nomination for president.
Kathleen O'Meara, former Senator, also put her name forward for the party nomination.
Fianna Fáil
Fianna Fáil will not be running a candidate. The decision was made at a meeting of the parliamentary party on 31 August 2011, and was in line with the recommendations of the six-person subcommittee formed by the party leader Micheál Martin to consider the matter.
In June 2011 press reports had indicated that the party was unlikely to run a candidate both for financial reasons and also because it was unlikely that a Fianna Fáil nominee could be successful. In early August 2011 there was press speculation that RTÉ broadcaster Gay Byrne might seek a nomination. On 6 August Micheál Martin rang Byrne at his holiday home to indicate that Fianna Fáil Oireachtas members would facilitate his nomination. Byrne indicated that he had yet to make a decision on whether to put his name forward, but said that if he did so he would not run under the Fianna Fáil banner but as an independent, albeit with the assistance of the party's organisation. "Fianna Fáil are convinced no matter who they put up will be unelectable, so they're giving me their support" he told the Irish Independent. Éamon Ó Cuív, the party's deputy leader and member of the committee tasked with deciding on their strategy for the election stated that "I know of no approach to Gay Byrne... Nobody has discussed the issue with me - good, bad or indifferent." On 13 August Byrne informed Martin that he would not be going forward for nomination. He stated that the idea of running had been "foisted on him and he had not known anything about it and what it would involve". This followed unease among Fianna Fáil parliamentary party Oireachtas members, with a number unhappy that a candidate was being imposed by the leadership without discussion.
On 16 August 2011, the Irish Examiner reported that Micheál Martin had moved to pull the party out of the presidential race over the fallout from the approach to Gay Byrne, the cost involved and the slim chance of a candidate being elected. On 24 August, however, the party's deputy leader Éamon Ó Cuív told Raidió na Gaeltachta that he believed the party should put forward a candidate. Several members had expressed an interest in the a party nomination:
Brian Crowley, MEP, said in The Irish Times on 29 September 2008 that he would like to stand for president in 2011. In July 2011 he wrote to members of the parliamentary party confirming that he wished to contest the election as the Fianna Fáil candidate. On 23 August Crowley indicated that he would not be seeking a nomination. He stated that the party leadership "has demonstrated that it does not want an internal party candidate to contest the upcoming presidential election. So, with much disappointment, I do not now feel free to seek the Fianna Fáil nomination."
Éamon Ó Cuív, TD for Galway West and former minister, expressed an interest in the office once held by his grandfather, Éamon de Valera.
Senator Mary White had announced her intention to stand for the Fianna Fáil nomination in 2008,but in May 2011 said that she would not be seeking the nomination.
Mary Hanafin also expressed an interest in seeking the nomination.
Following the decision by Fianna Fáil not to run their own candidate, there was speculation that some party members might be prepared to nominate an independent candidate. However, on 11 September the party's chief whip, Seán Ó Fearghail, made it clear that individual TDs and senators would not be permitted to sign the nomination papers of independent candidates. He said that if the party decided to support a candidacy it would be done collectively.
A meeting of the parliamentary party was held on 15 September at which the issue of the presidential election was raised. Unexpectedly, one of the party's senators, Labhrás Ó Murchú, sought nominations to run as an independent candidate.This was widely seen as a challenge to the authority of Micheál Martin. The extended meeting broke up without agreement. The parliamentary party met again on 20 September. Senator Ó Murchú withdrew his request for a nomination and a motion was passed that the party's Oireachtas members would not nominate or endorse any candidate. The decision was seen as a severe blow to the attempts to secure a nomination by David Norris and Dana Rosemary Scallon who were expected to need signatures from individual Fianna Fáil members.
Sinn Féin
With 14 TDs and three Senators, Sinn Féin are three short of the required twenty Oireachtas members to nominate a candidate for the presidency.
At the party's Ard Comhairle meeting in Dublin in June 2011, the party's leader, Gerry Adams TD, ruled himself out as a candidate. He had previously expressed a wish to be elected president in time for the centenary of the Easter Rising in 2016.
There had been reports in July that artist Robert Ballagh was "seriously considering a run for the presidency", and had been in talks with Sinn Féin, the Socialist Party and People Before Profit Alliance.[59] A Sinn Féin source confirmed there had been "very informal discussions",[60] However, on 25 July Ballagh ruled himself out.
In a keynote speech at the party's Ard Fheis on 10 September Gerry Adams said that he felt that Sinn Féin should support the nomination of "a candidate who is capable of winning the support of progressive and nationalist opinion... who will reflect the broad republican spirit of the Irish people at this time". He went on to state that the party's Ard Comhairle or officer board would consider the matter on 17 September.
On 16 September it was revealed that the party would seek to have Martin McGuinness, deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland, nominated to contest the election. Soon after the nomination was announced, four Independent TDs agreed to nominate McGuinness, securing his nomination: Michael Healy-Rae and Tom Fleming (both representing Kerry South), Luke 'Ming' Flanagan (Roscommon–South Leitrim) and Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central). Both 'Ming' Flanagan and McGrath had previously pledged their support to Norris.
Independent
In order to secure a nomination, a number of non-party politicians have sought the support of either 20 members of the Oireachtas or four city or county councils.
Oireachtas nominations
David Norris, a Senator since 1987 and long time civil rights campaigner who campaigned unsuccessfully in 2004 declared that he would seek a nomination in early 2010, and launched his campaign in January 2011. It had initially been anticipated that he might be nominated by the Labour Party. A Red C poll commissioned by Paddy Power in January 2011 showed that Norris was by far the most popular choice for President with more than double the support of any of the other potential candidates. On 14 March 2011 Norris formally launched his campaign to secure a nomination, stating that he had written to the chairpersons of each of the 34 county and city councils and that he would also be individually contacting the independent TDs elected to the 31st Dail. On 21 July Norris revealed that he had secured the support of 13 Oireachtas members for his candidacy, and was confident of securing 20. On 22 July two more senators announced they would back him. However, on 2 August, Norris publicly announced at a press conference that he was withdrawing from the presidential race. This followed the decision of three of his backers, the TDs John Halligan, Finian McGrath and Thomas Pringle to withdraw their support following revelations that Norris had written a letter to an Israeli court asking clemency for his former partner Ezra Nawi, who was then facing criminal charges. This information was publicised by John Connolly, a pro-Israel blogger in London, on July 24th. Norris withdrew his candidacy on the 2 August due to the controversy. On 15 September, however, it was reported that Norris was seeking to re-enter the election, and was meeting independent TDs looking for their support. By 25 September Norris had his nomination paper signed by 18 members of the Oireachtas However Mattie McGrath TD indicated that he would not be signing Norris's nomination papers following a meeting with his supporters. This effectively ended the attempt to gain nomination through the Oireachtas, although Michael Lowry TD had stated that he would give Norris his final required nomination if he managed to get 19 nominations.
Niall O'Dowd, New York based journalist and publisher. Early in June 2011, he indicated he had been approached by "a cross-party group of Irish and Irish-Americans" urging him to put his name forward for the contest. O'Dowd travelled to Ireland later in the month to meet Fianna Fáil, Sinn Féin and independent TDs and senators in an attempt to gain a nomination. O'Dowd withdrew from seeking a nomination on 30 June, due to the difficulty of organising a campaign and "because he stopped believing he could win".
The members of the Technical Group of independents in Dáil Éireann considered nominating a candidate. Finian McGrath, the chair of the group, circulated a list of 10 possible candidates to the members during the summer of 2011. Although meetings were held with Dana Rosemary Scallon, Mary Davis and Trócaire chief executive Justin Kilcullen no agreement was reached. Kilcullen withdrew from seeking a nomination on 14 September.
Council nominations
A number of independent politicians have sought support from local authorities, and four candidates were nominated by the resolutions of four or more councils:
Mary Davis announced on 26 May 2011 that she would be seeking a nomination. She had originally stated in August 2010 that she would consider standing for the presidency if approached by a political party.She subsequently decided to run as an independent, seeking nominations from four local authorities.
Seán Gallagher. In May 2011, The Sunday Business Post reported that he was likely to seek a nomination.The Irish Times subsequently reported that in addition to seeking the support of independents, he was approaching Fianna Fáil Oireachtas members in order to run as an independent candidate, but with a "semi-detached" relationship with the party. On 13 June 2011, he began the process of looking for nominations from local authorities.
David Norris. Norris approached a number of councils in June and July of 2011. On 2 August Norris announced he was withdrawing from the election. In September he reversed the decision, and received his first local authority nomination on 20 September.
Dana Rosemary Scallon announced on 19 September that she would be seeking a presidential nomination. She initially attempted to gain the signatures of 20 Oireachtas members. However, by 21 September, she only secured the support of one TD. She instead began the process of seeking support from county and city councils.
A number of councils scheduled special meetings to consider presidential nominations prior to the deadline of midday on 28 September 2011. Both David Norris and Dana Rosemary Scallon secured the support of a sufficient number of local authorities to become candidates in the presidential election.
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