The presidency - Questions that can’t be dodged

THE phoney war over the presidency has finally — and thankfully — ended. In a little over three weeks’ time President Mary McAleese’s successor will be elected.

Only time will tell if all seven candidates can reach polling day without having to reacquaint themselves with skeletons they would far prefer stay silent and undisturbed in dark, half-forgotten corners.

What we do know is that our next president will have far less popular support than any since Mary Robinson was elected our seventh president in 1990. Such a disparate field of contenders will inevitably divide the electorate, sometimes along unexpected lines.