Nick Delehanty launches presidential campaign saying he does not support multiculturalism

Independent presidential candidate Nick Delehanty launched his campaign in Dublin, criticising multiculturalism, the rotating Taoiseach system, and Government spending policies

Nick Delehanty, who is seeking a nomination to run for president, at a campaign launch for the media at Pitch, Dublin. Picture: Cillian Sherlock /PA Wire

Independent presidential hopeful Nick Delehanty has said he does not agree with the concept of multiculturalism as he launched his campaign in Dublin on Tuesday.

Mr Delehanty said he agreed with UK Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch on the matter, citing a previous BBC interview in which she criticised multiculturalism in the UK.

“She [Badenoch] doesn’t believe, and I agree with this, in multiculturalism because there should be a culture to most people sign up to in a country that everybody agrees upon and that’s what we’re about,” Mr Delehanty said.

“She believes, and I believe, in multiethnicity. It’s good to tease those things out. It’s good to have an Irish culture and celebrate Irish culture and be proud to be Irish.” 

He added that his political ideology aligns with Danish social democracy.

Mr Delehanty previously ran in the most recent local and general elections, standing for Dublin City Council and later the Dublin Bay South constituency. He was unsuccessful in both campaigns.

He has built an online following in recent years by frequently criticising the Government’s spending on international protection accommodation.

During his launch, Mr Delehanty accused the Government of “making millionaires out of some people who should not be getting Government contracts in the first place” through the IPAS system.

However, he denied being a one-issue candidate.

Mr Delehanty said the country is facing a “political crisis” and criticised the concept of a rotating Taoiseach, saying it has “devalued the most powerful office in the State.”

“The concept of a rotating Taoiseach is bizarre… Why are we allowing the normalisation of this concept,” Mr Delehanty said.

However, he admitted it is not unconstitutional, but argued it is not “good value for the people of Ireland.”

The Tipperary-born candidate said he was “confident” there is a pathway to a nomination, noting that he has secured proposers and seconders from between six and ten local councils.

However, he admitted this does not necessarily guarantee success.

“This could all be over in two or three weeks, if it doesn’t go our way but we have to keep going.” 

He compared the role of the President to that of an influencer, saying there is “no bigger influencer on a national stage than the President.”

When asked if he wanted to be a content creator rather than President, Mr Delehanty disagreed, saying the use of online communications is standard in the modern era.

On the Occupied Territories Bill, Mr Delehanty said he agreed with the “intent” behind the legislation but argued that its outcomes must be “weighed carefully.”