Eclectic bunch give us a taste of the debates to come
Polite, composed and amicable, all squeezed into the crowded studio for the talk with presenter Sean O’Rourke.
Nobody was expecting all guns would be blazing. The gloves haven’t come off yet. But a few gaps in policies and personality traits emerged on air.
Candidates kept their points simple but at times they seemed nearly intangible.
Independent Sean Gallagher, Fine Gael’s Gay Mitchell and Sinn Féin’s Martin McGuinness all put up the poor mouth or “modest man” approach.
Gallagher had been unemployed twice and knew the importance of jobs; Mitchell described his impoverished youth when he worked as a factory worker and McGuinness reiterated his pledge to only take the average wage if elected.
O’Rourke quickly kicked any rhetoric to touch after the seven had fired their opening salvos and pledges.
Gallagher was accused of being an “amateur” and his experience in public life in youth work was maybe just enough to get him elected as a local councillor.
Despite McGuinness raising his association with South Africa’s Nelson Mandela at least four times, O’Rourke shrugged, referred to the other six candidates and himself and responded: “We’ve all had our picture taken with Nelson Mandela.”
And then there was the issue of those Norris clemency letters. The Joycean scholar said he couldn’t go there for “confidentiality reasons”.
He denied hiding anything. Instead, he spoke Hebrew as he vowed to travel to Israel if elected.
He also countenanced any claim he disliked the Pope. “We’ve certain things in common. We’re academics, we’ve an interest in theology... but most importantly we have our human foibles and Pope Benedict has put his foot in it once or twice and got slapped.”
Michael D Higgins tried to brush aside the issue of being aged 70 declaring that he only just travelled to Colombia last year and visited villages plagued by FARC terrorism.
In between the myriad of issues and jibes, Independent Mary Davis called for Áras an Uachtaráin to be renamed “Áras na Daoine”.
“What matters is people,” she said.
Dana was equally dreamlike when commenting on what to do for the 1916 centenary celebrations, if elected.
“We all respect each other...you can be who you are without threatening them.”
It’s a sign of the debates to come. And what more could we expect having the eclectic bunch which includes a former pop star, a gay rights activist and an erstwhile IRA chief running for office?
Aged 70, born in Limerick and grew up in Co Clare. Become a senator in 1973. Elected a TD in 1981.
Minister for arts in 1993 in the FF/Labour government. Set up TG4.
Indicated desire to run for presidency in 2004 but party failed to contest election. Has campaigned widely on human rights.
Wants to use presidency to build an inclusive and creative society. A poll gives him 18% of first preferences but he is seen as very transfer friendly.
Aged 67, born in the Congo but grew up in Dublin. Lecturer and gay rights activist has served as a senator since 1987.
The Joycean scholar went to the European courts in 1988 and overturned an Irish law criminalising same sex activities. It was eventually changed in 1993.
As an independent, he says it is important to have a non-political figure in the Áras. Has led the polls to date, with 21% of support in the most recent one.
Gay Mitchell Aged 59, born in Dublin and one of nine children. The former Dublin lord became a Fine Gael TD in 1981 and then a junior minister in the 1990s.
Said he is unable to retrieve copies of letters seeking clemency for convicts. After his failed bid for the leadership of Fine Gael in 2002, he was elected an MEP in 2004. A recent poll gave him 13% support.
Aged 61, born and grew up in Derry. By 21, he was second-in-command of the IRA in Derry when British troops killed 14 on Bloody Sunday.
Took office as a Northern Ireland Assembly member in 1998 and was Sinn Féin’s chief negotiator in the Good Friday Agreement. Deputy first minister in 2007. Hopes to use his negotiating skills to benefit Ireland internationally. Poll gave him 16% of support.
Aged 49. Born in Co Monaghan but grew up in Co Cavan. He overcame a serious eyesight ailment with surgery and bought his first farm aged 21.
He worked with Fianna Fáil’s national executive as well as election campaigns. Has been a judge on the reality TV show Dragon’s Den since 2009. Wants to promote the creation of jobs if elected.
The Independent candidate got 11% in a poll.
Aged 57. Born and grew up in Co Mayo. She trained as a physical teacher and later worked with people with intellectual disabilities. Driving force as chief executive of the Special Olympics in 2003.
Appointed to the Council of State in 2004. Wants to effect change for the marginalised and repair Ireland’s international reputation. She got 13% in a recent poll.
Aged 60. Born in London and grew up in Derry. In 1970 she won the Eurovision with All Kinds of Everything.
Third in a bid for the presidency in 1997 and went on to win a seat in Europe as an MEP in 1999.
She campaigns strongly on family values. Poll gives her 6% of support.
