Behind the Story: The most brutal political race of all

A small few have outlined their interest in running for the presidency later this year, but many more are tight-lipped.
A lot of people have ruled themselves out, while others have been kicking official announcements down the path by insisting decisions have not been made.
For the bigger parties there's a lot to consider - and for the rest of us there's a lot to speculate on.
It seems Fine Gael have two strong options, while Sinn Féin's Michelle O'Neill raised eyebrows earlier when she neither said yes or no when directly asked if she will run.
Fianna Fáil have a bit of a selection dilemma on their hands, and the spot for an expected joint-left candidate seems to be wide open.
In the latest episode of Behind the Story, Katie Hannon, Fran McNulty and David McCullagh scan the field and tell the more dramatic stories of past campaigns.
They go into how Albert Reynolds thought he had a nomination in 1997, only to be pipped by Mary McAleese.
They also look at the infamous phone call that Brian Lenihan denied he ever made.

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RTÉ News​

3 hours ago

• RTÉ News​

'Combined opposition' to continue for now, but for how long?

The sight of Opposition leaders gathering together on the plinth at Leinster House has become very familiar in recent weeks. The so-called "combined opposition" emerged as a force during the heat of the speaking rights row back in January when the Dáil failed to elect a Taoiseach. Since then, the group has pooled its weight and resources repeatedly to advance issues of mutual interest. In recent weeks, this has included joint motions on Israeli war bonds, the Raise the Roof protest and the support of disability campaigner Cara Darmody. At times, the collective approach has included leaders from Sinn Féin, the Labour Party, the Social Democrats, People Before Profit, Independent Ireland and the Green Party. But what is really going on behind the scenes? One party source said it all flowed from the speakers' rights controversy, but added that it is also an evolution of co-operation in the last Dáil. They said: "It will continue where there are issues of common concern. But each individual party will want to maintain its own identity. "It's quite easy to agree to be against Government at the moment, there will be more nuances and policy differences as the Government goes on." One Sinn Féin TD said he saw real potential for co-operation on the issues of housing and the Middle East and that the move was about "combining and maximising collective strength". And all agree that the overlap with Independent Ireland is limited and they are diametrically opposed on key policy areas. But it is also clear that for Sinn Féin, this is about demonstrating to voters that there is a viable alternative Government - one made up of parties on the left. One party source said this hurt its vote in the last general election. "This is about showing that there is a viable alternative government in the medium term," they said. They point to the presence of Opposition spokespeople on stage at the Raise the Roof protest this week. "The physical presence of us stood together on the platform, that is a powerful symbol for those who want to see more cooperation and a potential alternative," they added. "Looking to the next election, the question is what is the alternative government?" A Social Democrats source also contended that this is partly about offering a realisable option to voters who do not support the current Government. They said: "The dynamic in this Dáil is unique. This is the second Fianna Fáil-Fine Gael government plus independents. These are two parties in decline over time, with a largely older voter base. "Looking to the next election, the question is what is the alternative government? A lot of people say to us that it is good to see you working together and that there appears to be an alternative." But all are clear that individual parties will continue to maintain their own identities and forge unique policies. Some in Labour and the Social Democrats said the whole dynamic has been overstated. A Labour source points out that they have "serious" differences with Sinn Féin on migration, housing and some tax issues. And it is clear that some have concerns about being perceived as tied to Sinn Féin. The Social Democrats has also rebuffed a few suggestions of joint appearances amid concern that the device could be overused. Behind the scenes, there have also been moves to change up the order of speakers at events so that Sinn Féin is not the assumed first speaker. This has been part of a concerted move to ensure Mary Lou McDonald is not seen as the de facto leader. Another source in a smaller party queries Sinn Féin's assertion that it is the "leader of the Opposition", suggesting this is language imported from Westminster where one large opposition party dominates. "Certainly there should not be a situation where Sinn Féin thinks it can call the shots," they said. Some Labour members have also fed back to party leadership that they are not happy with the joint approach on issues. Another source suggested that Sinn Féin has it "totally wrong" if it thinks it can present a picture of an alternative government when there are "sharp differences" between the parties. In response, a Sinn Féin source acknowledged that smaller parties are always worried about being carved up by larger ones. Presidential election a looming test of cohesion A looming test of cohesion is the bid for the combined left to nominate a joint candidate for the presidency. Smaller parties see this as a crucial decision point for Sinn Féin as it has the numbers to select its own person if it wishes. Some Sinn Féin TDs have privately suggested the party should not run its own candidate as they believe the position is not winnable for one of its politicians But another source said that fielding a party person would present the opportunity to "frame the debate", particularly on its core issue of a united Ireland. Although they add that they are aware there would be "consequences" if the party did badly. And it is not all harmony. A Labour source said he has picked up some disquiet from individuals who could run as a civil society candidate but who do not wish to be jointly nominated by Sinn Féin. Overall, there are mixed views as to how long the combined opposition will last. One source said they could not predict what would happen in a year, but it would continue for now. Another contends that disharmony will be rife as it gets closer to election time. For now though, many of the Opposition parties feel it is a useful device to combine strengths and make a bigger impact.

Irish Times

4 hours ago

• Irish Times

If our Geraldine can thrive in Trump's Washington, she might be a worthy winner of the race for the Áras

It's been no fun trying to whip up any sort of speculation about the forthcoming presidential election. The kites aren't flying the way they used to. It seems the vicious nature of recent campaigns is making potential candidates think twice about taking a tilt at the Áras, while the political parties, still weighing up their options, hope a shorter mobilisation might limit carnage. Nonetheless, some interesting names are floating about. A number of Fianna Fáil stalwarts have been mentioned: former taoiseach Bertie Ahern , former minister Mary Hanafin and MEP Cynthia Ni Mhurchú while Barry Andrews, her colleague in Brussels, has graciously ruled himself out. READ MORE Then there was talk of the party sounding out the former SDLP leader, Colum Eastwood , who said he wouldn't rule out running when he was sounded out by the BBC. The MP for Derry's Foyle constituency said he was mulling over his prospects because 'people have asked'. Fianna Fáiler Micheál Martin was quick to say he wasn't one of them. 'There's been no contact with me, there's been no engagement that I am aware of from the Fianna Fáil party and it hasn't been on the agenda at all,' he said. A candidate from outside the fold remains a distinct possibility. There are whispers in political and diplomatic circles about Geraldine Byrne Nason, Ireland's ambassador to Washington. Fianna Fáil sources say her name is getting a lot of traction. A hugely experienced diplomat with an impressive CV, Byrne Nason spearheaded Ireland's successful campaign for a seat on the UN Security Council in 2020. She is a former second secretary general in the Department of An Taoiseach, which made her the country's highest-ranking woman public servant at the time. She received Concern Worldwide's annual Women of Concern Award for 'her outstanding career as a female leader within the diplomatic and Civil Service and her unwavering dedication to advocating for women's rights at home and abroad'. She was awarded the freedom of her native Drogheda in 2020. A Fianna Fáil source said: 'There really is a dearth of good candidates out there. Geraldine would be an inspired choice. She would be a candidate of stature and if the party rows in behind her campaign we could be on to a winner. And she'd have the Louth vote sewn up.' Here's another interesting one. The businessman and founder of the homeless charity Tiglin, Senator Aubrey McCarthy, is also a name which keeps coming up when the presidential election is discussed. Senator McCarthy, who was elected to the Upper House for the first time this year, has not ruled out a run. One Leinster House observer tells us how Kildare-based Aubrey 'has been noticed on the Ferrero Rocher embassy circuit of late'. Meanwhile, he is holding a big bash in The Elms in Punchestown this weekend for friends and sponsors who helped him in his Seanad campaign. What better way for Aubrey to kick start a new campaign, if he really is thinking of throwing his hat into the ring? But surely Seán Gallagher has to be a long shot? The businessman who unsuccessfully contested the last two presidential elections – he looked set for victory in 2007 until his campaign imploded amid controversy over his connections with Fianna Fáil – was seen a number of weeks ago in the Dáil bar with Cathal Lee, a key member of his campaign team. They met a number of independent senators, according to our source. But it seems unlikely he would go for the hat-trick of runs. On the Sinn Féin front, Northern Ireland First Minister and party vice-president Michelle O'Neill has yet to rule out a run for the Irish presidential election. She said at the North South Ministerial Council that the party 'is working its way through deliberations on putting forward a candidate'. Fine Gael seems to be quietly coasting towards the campaign with front-runner Mairead McGuinness keeping a low profile while questions rage over which other candidates might join her on the ticket. But nothing has been decided yet. MEP Seán Kelly hasn't indicated whether he will contest the party's nomination. He is due to address the Association of European Journalists in Dublin next Thursday. Guests will be wondering if he chooses this occasion to bow out or make his first stump speech. And finally, Dr Mike Ryan, the Sligo-born public health specialist, is being lined up as a keynote speaker at next month's MacGill Summer School. The former deputy director general of the World Health Organisation – he became a household name during the Covid crisis and is an outspoken voice on the humanitarian cost of Israel's assault on Gaza – is being courted by a number of parties, including Labour , as a consensus Left candidate. If he makes it to Glenties, his speech may reveal all. Fox news The sad news of a fox perishing in the fountain outside Government Buildings in Dublin on Tuesday was one of the most-talked-about topics of the week. Not least because many of us feared it was Mildred, a fox regularly sighted strolling around Leinster Lawn haughtily ignoring the political and media wildlife trying to take her photo. Not to be confused with the other Mildred Fox, who was an Independent TD for Wicklow from 1995 to 2007. A number of people have been in touch since we reported the sad death, wondering how a creature as strong and agile as a fox could drown in relatively shallow water. Former Green Party minister Roderic O'Gorman has the answer. It was a fox cub, probably still getting used to going out exploring on its own. O'Gorman's office in the Engineering Block looks into an area at the back of Government Buildings, near the service and maintenance areas for Leinster House. There is an open basement area under the block where a family of foxes resides in a hidey hole under the pipes. 'I saw them originally about three weeks ago just peeping out of the den – still very small. But they are growing up fast.' he told us on Friday. 'When I see them now, it's just them on their own, so they are obviously big enough for their parents to let them out.' O'Gorman shot a video of them running around the place last week. 'I saw four of them playing then, but when I was looking down on them this morning [Thursday] there was only three.' The Merrion Street/Kildare Street campus is their playground. 'They can go through to the courtyard through the arches. One of them must have gone in there, which is awful.' Three government ministers held press conferences in the courtyard on Tuesday morning – Paschal Donohoe, James Browne and Jim O'Callaghan. There were large media contingents at the briefings. Strangely, nobody noticed the dead fox in the fountain. It was switched off the following day and thoroughly cleaned. 'It's great to see such amazing wildlife right here in Leinster House in the very heart of Dublin, but it's awful sad to see us losing one of the family,' said O'Gorman, the only Green TD in the Dáil. Just don't tell Danny Healy-Rae or Michael Collins where the rest of them are. Mildred, we are assured, is still around. Welcome to the wildly inaccurate Rose county Don't cry for me, Ballymena... Maria Walsh , a former Rose of Tramore, told the EU Parliament in the Brussels town of Strasbourg this week that Ireland and Europe must stand with victims of hate-fuelled crimes and 'show that diversity is a strength, not a threat'. The Fine Gael MEP for Midlands-Northwest referred to recent public order disturbances in the North during the 'One-minute speeches for matters of political importance' slot on Monday. With just 60 seconds to get her point across, Walsh, reading carefully from her one-page script, didn't notice a glaring error in her opening line. A microphone malfunction at the start wouldn't have helped either. 'Recent riots on the island of Ireland, which began in the town of Ballymena in Co Leitrim have morphed from concern about a tragic sexual assault allegation into xenophobic violence against migrant families,' she began. 'As Amnesty Northern Ireland director Patrick Corrigan said, we are just one petrol bomb away from racially motivated murder.' Luckily, Sinn Féin's eagle-eyed observers spotted her geographical gaffe and, in the spirit of comradely co-operation, a member of the comms team took to social media to point it out. 'Could someone please provide Fine Gael with a map of Ireland?' Luke O'Riordan asked, attaching a video clip of the moment. As it happened, the error was spotted a couple of days before this generous intervention. The clip Walsh posted to her own account had already been seamlessly edited with no reference to Leitrim, the Wild Rose County. AK-47 is reloaded and the safety catch is off Former Labour leader Alan Kelly is enjoying something of a renaissance these days, what with chairing the Oireachtas Media Committee and a nicely blossoming Dáil double-act with Minister for Justice Jim O'Callaghan . Kelly has suddenly become the man with the inside track on issues of concern in the world of law enforcement. He says he has told the minister more about what is going on than his Garda Commissioner, Drew Harris . He was talking about the overdue remedial work on Garda stations, particularly those affected by asbestos. Why has the Commissioner not given the minister details of people at risk and situations where the State may be exposed to claims? 'Does this not create a huge risk that you really need to put close to the top of your pile as regards the issues the Commissioner hasn't told you about? Maybe you need to have a truth and reconciliation meeting with the Commissioner. Perhaps you need to sit down and say, 'Hey Commissioner! Do you know what, you're out the gap there on the first of September. Is there anything else in the long list of issues that you haven't told me about?'' The following day, Kelly told the Dáil that he was the first person to inform the Minister that undercover gardaí supplied guns to Evan Fitzgerald, the young man who took his own life at a Carlow shopping centre on June 1st. He said he rang O'Callaghan on June 3rd to let him know of the involvement of undercover gardaí. 'Is it correct that I had to tell him to go to the Garda Commissioner and ask him about the full details in relation to this case?' He has already revealed information about garda holsters, importation issues with guns, drugs in HQ, thousands of missing fingerprints. 'I can guarantee you many of the other issues still have not been brought your attention,' he said, ominously. 'So I would encourage you to have that truth and reconciliation meeting very soon. Otherwise, I'm going to be coming in here on many many more issues that you're not bloody well aware of.' Justice Questions might be worth watching in the future.

Irish Independent

8 hours ago

• Irish Independent

Sinn Féin's Michelle O'Neill not ruling out run in presidential election

Asked if she was considering putting her name forward, Ms O'Neill said Sinn Féin was working its way through deliberations on selecting a candidate. Speaking at a meeting of the North South Ministerial Council in Armagh, Ms O'Neill said she has plenty to do as First Minister, but did not rule herself out as a candidate. The election for the next president is expected to take place in October. When asked if she would put her name forward as a candidate, Ms O'Neill said: 'I am working our way through our deliberations as we speak.' She also called for voting rights in presidential elections to be extended to Irish citizens living in Northern Ireland. I could be elected Uachtarán, but I can't vote in that election 'Just to say, we obviously also haven't concluded our own deliberations in terms of the presidential race itself,' she said. 'I think I've plenty to do being as First Minister, but I think that the fact remains that I could stand for election, I could be elected Uachtarán na hÉireann, but I can't vote in that election. 'So that's where there's a deficit, and what we need to see is presidential voting rights extended to the North, so that Irish citizens in the North can vote for their Uachtarán.' Taoiseach Micheál Martin said he was not aware of any engagement with former SDLP leader Colum Eastwood about becoming the Fianna Fáil candidate for the presidency. It has been reported that Mr Eastwood is considering a bid for Áras an Uachtaráin. Asked to confirm if Mr Eastwood had been approached by the party, Mr Martin challenged the basis for the question, adding: 'There's been no contact with me, there's been no engagement that I am aware of from the Fianna Fail party and it hasn't been on the agenda at all.' Mr Martin said he was 'surprised' to hear Mr Eastwood was considering a run, but 'it's open to everybody to put themselves forward'.