President’s office is not for retirement: Gallagher
“It requires youth and dynamism. This is not a job for somebody who’s retiring. This is a job that will take huge energy and huge drive at home and abroad,” the 49-year-old independent candidate said.
He was speaking in Cork as he and Labour Presidential candidate, Michael D Higgins, 70, continued their campaigns.
Speaking during a visit to the English Market earlier, Mr Higgins said if elected, it was intention to serve just one seven-year term.
He said he is in great shape, having made a full recovery from a knee injury sustained while visiting Trócaire projects in Columbia eight months ago.
He said he was “appalled” and “horrified” by a blogger’s claims that people associated with Labour were involved in the leaking of the David Norris plea letter which forced the senator’s withdrawal from the presidential race earlier this week.
“This is just outrageous. No one that I know, not to speak of anyone involved in my campaign, would be involved in such an action,” he said.
The blogger involved has changed his position up to five times this week, he said.
Mr Higgins said the campaign now needs to get on to positive ground and candidates should be asked what they propose to do in office.
“We should be debating the how of the thing. What do you propose to do? Is what you’re proposing achievable within the constitution?” he said.
He also said he has no concerns about skeletons in his closet.
“There is nothing in my past that in anyway incapacitates me from being an excellent president,” he said.
Speaking after meeting with Cork Chamber later, Mr Gallagher, the Monaghan-born entrepreneur and former Dragons’ Den star who has the indicative support of five local authorities, said he senses an appetite for the next president to be an independent.
“The presidency has always been seen as a gift of political parties, a reward for service. I don’t see it like that, and I don’t think people see it like that either,” he said.
He said if elected, he would focus on enterprise, and redefine the role of the president, as Mary Robinson and Mary McAleese have done.
“My first job would be to go to Government and the Taoiseach and say I am now available with my skill sets to put the presidency to work — sleeves rolled-up job.
“I would make myself available to every organ of the government, to work hand-in-glove with them to promote Ireland abroad and to serve her people at home.
“I’m as comfortable opening a community centre as I am speaking on a platform in California or Beijing to attract FDI to promote tourism, to promote trade and to lead trade missions
“I know the weight and value that a head of state brings to open doors for Irish companies and products into new and emerging markets.”
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