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Irish Examiner
an hour ago
- Politics
- Irish Examiner
New Lord Mayor of Cork vows to make city centre safer with 'decisive action'
The new Lord Mayor of Cork has vowed to work to make the city centre safer and to make historic City Hall more accessible to citizens. Fianna Fáil councillor Fergal Dennehy, who represents the city's south west local electoral area, made the pledge after his election at the annual general meeting of Cork City Council on Friday night, which was attended by his party leader and Taoiseach, Micheál Martin. 'Cork's heart must be a place where everyone feels welcome and secure,' Togher-based Mr Dennehy said. 'By working closely with An Garda Síochána, businesses, and community groups, we will maintain confidence and vibrancy to our city centre. 'I welcome the recent appointment of a council director with specific responsibility for the city centre and also the collaboration with the Cork Business Association to provide city centre wardens. 'I will work closely with all of the stakeholders to achieve our goals here to make our city even safer.' Mr Dennehy, a father of two, was first elected to council in 2004 but lost his seat in 2009. He won it back in 2014 and has retained it since. He was nominated for the position, and faced a vote against Solidarity Cllr Brian McCarthy and Sinn Féin Cllr Michelle Gould. He secured 23 votes, against five for Ms Gould and two for Mr McCarthy, and took the chain of office some 42 years after his father, former Fianna Fáil TD, John Dennehy, was elected lord mayor, leading the city through the Cork 800 celebrations. 'Your leadership and collaboration with businesses and communities laid the foundation for a year of pride and achievement that still resonates in Cork,' Mr Dennehy said. Thank you for your continued service and dedication to our city and of course thank you for everything that you have done for me as my father in both my political and personal life. They are the third father and son duo to hold the mayoral office in recent years — following on from John and Brian Bermingham, and Danny and Damian Wallace. There were cross-party tributes to outgoing Lord Mayor Dan Boyle, and deputy Lord Mayor, Honore Kamegni, for their work over the last 12 months. In his speech, Mr Dennehy said the city stands at a crossroads, facing challenges in housing and transport that demand 'bold vision and decisive action'. 'With a huge projected population growth in the coming years, we must ensure every citizen has access to quality social and affordable housing,' he said. He said transport projects such as the Luas light rail and BusConnects must serve all residents equitably and protect our environment for generations to come, and he cited the potential of Cork docklands, but said growth must be inclusive, lifting all citizens, and all communities. 'For me, Cork has always been about its people and communities,' he said. 'Everything we do as a city council must be guided by their needs and aspirations. 'I will continue to work closely with community groups, sporting organizations, our elected representatives and the voluntary sector to strengthen the bonds that have already made this city so special.'
Irish Examiner
2 hours ago
- Politics
- Irish Examiner
First Minister O'Neill remains vague about potential presidential candidacy
The North's First Minister Michelle O'Neill has failed to rule herself out as a potential candidate for the Irish presidential election. When asked to comment on speculation that she may throw her hat into the ring, Ms O'Neill was coy, only saying: "I think I have plenty to do as first minister." Asked whether or not she was considering it, she responded: "I am... working our way through deliberations as we speak." Sinn Féin is in the midst of a consultation process with members on how it will proceed in terms of the election. "It's a very important and significant role. Sinn Féin could have a candidate or support someone from outside of Sinn Féin. There are merits in both options," a party spokesperson said. While remaining vague on her own ambitions in terms of the presidency, Ms O'Neill was clear on wanting to see voting rights extended to citizens in the North. I could stand for election, I could be elected Uachtarán na hÉireann but I cannot vote in that election. "So that is where there is a deficit, and what we need to see is presidential voting rights extended to Irish citizens in the North," said Ms O'Neill. She was speaking at a meeting of the North South Ministerial Council in Armagh where Taoiseach Micheál Martin was also questioned about possible candidates to take on the role. Mr Martin appeared to be caught off-guard by a suggestion that former SDLP leader Colum Eastwood could be a possible Fianna Fáil candidate. "There has been no contact with me and there has been no engagement that I am aware of with the Fianna Fáil party and it has not been on the agenda," the Fianna Fáil leader said. The party has not yet concluded its deliberations with Mr Martin suggesting that it is likely to be later in the summer when they make an announcement on the matter.
RTÉ News
3 hours ago
- Politics
- RTÉ News
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.
The Journal
5 hours ago
- Politics
- The Journal
Taoiseach ‘not aware' of any talk in Fianna Fáil about backing Colum Eastwood for president
FIANNA FÁIL LEADER and Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said he is not aware of any engagement with former SDLP leader Colum Eastwood over becoming the party's candidate for the Irish presidency. It has been reported by the BBC that Eastwood is considering a bid for Áras an Uachtaráin. Eastwood is currently an MP for Northern Ireland's Foyle constituency, which takes in Derry. He resigned as SDLP party leader in October last year , having announced his intention to step down a couple of months prior. The BBC today reported that Eastwood is 'considering' a bid because 'people have asked and we'll see where it goes'. 'There's very few candidates in the field right now. It's something that needs a lot of consideration.' He added: 'I'm going to take the time to think about it, but it's a long summer and there's enough to be getting on with before any decisions around that would have to be made.' Aged 42, Eastwood has previously served as the youngest mayor of Derry between 2010 and 2011. He became an MLA in 2011 and became party leader in 2015. Advertisement Eastwood was then voted in as an MP in 2019 and was return to Westminister in 2024, though with a much smaller majority. Rumours have swirled in recent days that Eastwood is being considered as a potential nominee by Fianna Fáil. Asked to confirm if Eastwood had indeed been approached by the Fianna Fáil party, Martin questioned 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.' Speaking at a North South Ministerial Council meeting today in Co Armagh, Martin said he was 'surprised' to hear Eastwood was considering a run but said 'it's open to everybody to put themselves forward'. He said Eastwood was a 'very effective parliamentarian' but Fianna Fáil had not concluded on deliberations 'at all'. The SDLP and Fianna Fáil entered into a 'policy partnership' in 2019 but this was ended in 2022. Talks of a possible merger between the two parties had been ongoing at the time, however, rather than a full-on merger, the parties instead agreed to the 'policy partnership'. Eastwood told a meeting of his party delegates in September 2022 that the time had come for the SDLP to 'stand on its own two feet'. Meanwhile, Northern Ireland First Minister and Sinn Féin vice president Michelle O'Neill has not ruled out a run for the Irish presidential election. Asked at the North South Ministerial Council if she was considering putting her name forward, O'Neill said Sinn Féin is working its way through deliberations on putting forward a candidate. -With additional reporting from Diarmuid Pepper and Press Association Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
Irish Independent
5 hours ago
- Politics
- Irish Independent
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 is working its way through deliberations on selecting a candidate. Speaking at a meeting of the North South Ministerial Council (NSMC) in Armagh, Ms O'Neill said she has plenty to do as First Minister but she did not rule herself out as a candidate. The election for the next president of Ireland 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. 'Just to say we obviously also haven't concluded our own deliberations in terms of the presidential race itself,' she added. 'I think I've plenty to do being First Minister, but I think that the fact remains that I could stand for election, I could be elected Uachtaran 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 Uachtaran.' Taoiseach Micheál Martin said he is not aware of any engagement with former SDLP leader Colum Eastwood over becoming the Fianna Fáil candidate for the Irish presidency. It has been reported that Mr Eastwood is considering a bid for Aras an Uachtarain. ADVERTISEMENT Asked to confirm if Mr Eastwood had been approached by the Fianna Fail 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 Fáil 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 said 'it's open to everybody to put themselves forward'. He said Mr Eastwood was a 'very effective parliamentarian' but Fianna Fáil had not concluded on deliberations 'at all'. 'We will make our choices as a party, and we haven't concluded deliberations at all,' he added. 'As you can see from recent commentary, and I think from previous experiences and previous presidential elections, there seems to be a tendency that later in the summer might be a more optimal time to be announcing candidates than earlier in the summer. 'That's where we are and we haven't made any decisions.' Northern Ireland Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly said that a head of state already exists in the province. 'I don't have any opinion on a particular candidate, but all I can say is, like we live in a world where there's a constitutional reality and there's a constitutional aspiration, and that's set out very clearly in the Belfast-Good Friday Agreement and the mechanisms around that,' she added. 'We have a head of state here in Northern Ireland, we are a full part of the United Kingdom, until such times as the people of Northern Ireland and the Republic both to decide otherwise. 'So that's why it doesn't apply in NI. I am supportive of the continuum of the current situation and the equilibrium and balance that was carefully negotiated and endorsed by people of Northern Ireland in the Belfast-Good Friday Agreement.'
