DURING a lengthy meeting of Limerick City and County Council, councillors voted against nominating a candidate for the upcoming presidential election on October 24.
Green Party councillor Seán Hartigan proposed the Council nominate a candidate, claiming there was a lot of talk about not putting anyone forward.
“I had an email earlier on today saying the candidates that came before Limerick City and County Council ‘lacked the skillset and gravitas’ to be considered for the role of president. When I got back to this person, they didn’t even know the names of the candidates that presented before us here,” he claimed.
He said “a number of very capable candidates came in here and gave their time to speak to the Council and to travel and to say their piece. A number were qualified, if not more qualified than some of the candidates that have secured a place on the ballot sheet, and I believe this Council should acknowledge the effort they made.”
“We have power and I believe we should use that power.”
Independent Ireland councillor John O’Donoghue seconded Cllr Hartigan’s proposal.
Four names were eventually put forward for consideration, including Cllr Kieran McCarthy (Cork) and Maria Steen (Dublin) alongside County Limerick’s Dr Donnacha MacGabhann and Gerben Uunk.
After more than an hour of deliberation, councillors moved not to nominate any candidate.
Three candidates have so far secured enough support to be on the ballot ahead of the Irish Presidential election – Catherine Connolly (IND), Jim Gavin (FF), and Heather Humphreys (FG).
