Let’s have a shake-up of the Áras – before the next beauty contest

The first salvos have been fired in the race for Áras an Uachtaráin.

The political vacuum caused by the lack of general or by-elections has whetted an appetite for a fictional beauty contest. Interesting, worthy contenders are throwing shapes at seeking nominations and flying kites as to their acceptability. This is a phoney fight. While a new incumbent will replace Mary McAleese after November 2011, the main political parties will await the summer before revealing their nominations.

The critical issue is timing. If a general election isn’t held before next July, candidates will predominate from outside the current crop of senior active parliamentarians. If the general election and likely consequent change of government does occur by this juncture, the landscape of potential contestants will alter radically.