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PRESIDENT MICHAEL D Higgins has said he “is not ruling out” running for a second term in office next year.
Higgins was speaking on RTÉ Radio One’s Today with Sean O’Rourke this morning before officially opening the National Ploughing Championships at midday.
During the 2011 presidential election, Higgins repeatedly pledged that he would only stand for a single seven-year term. However, since being elected, the president has refused to rule out the possibility of a second run for Áras an Uachtaráin.
A presidential election is due to be held in October 2018. If no-one contests the election, current president Higgins could be given a free run at a second term.
Higgins told O’Rourke that by the time of the next year’s event “you should have a very, very good idea” about his intentions to run.
“My concentration, as it is now, is on doing this term very well and that’s why I don’t answer the question now,” Higgins said.
My concentration is on doing the job I’m doing and I’m getting great support from the Irish public.
“In the fullness of my time, it is just my decision, it doesn’t affect anyone else. I’m being dead straight about it, I haven’t ruled anyone out and therefore by the time of the ploughing next year the numbers will be up again,” he said.
Higgins said that he has a full schedule over the next year and he wants to pay his engagements his full attention.
He said that he has a trip to Australia and New Zealand planned for October. Following this he has European visits in spring and he hopes to visit Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in Canada.
“Then we’ll run through the summer with a set of maybe eight garden parties,” he said.
After that, I will make an announcement as to what my intentions are.
“I think what is very, very important, you must bear in mind, anyone who has become involved with, by writing to the president and setting up any kind of function between now and that time… they’re entitled to be given my full concentration and that’s exactly what I’m doing,” Higgins said.
Backing from Leo
In July, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar hinted that he would back Higgins for a second term.
“The thing we don’t know yet is whether President Higgins is going to renominate himself,” Varadkar said.
“I think he has done a fabulous job as president. I have really liked working alongside him… I really already lean on his advice and his experience. It is an advantage as a young Taoiseach to have an experienced president to bounce things off and consult with. So the first decision – before we even think about other candidates – is to see whether President Higgins nominates himself.”
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He’s got my vote!
@Piarais Mac Maoláin: he hasn’t stood for second term yet
@Piarais Mac Maoláin: A liar?
Please don’t Michael
@Cathal S Byrne: Why not?
@deise: I’d prefer someone new rather than a champagne socialist who is president thanks to RTE and Pat Kenny.
@Cathal S Byrne: personally I want him to stay
@deise: Why?
@Cathal S Byrne: Anyone who talks to a horse has my vote.
But he did emphatically rule it out when he ran the last time.
@Charles Spencer III: I dont think changing his mind is a big issue. Few people voted for him on that basis I would suspect
@Charles Spencer III: and , as he made a promise ,he should rule it out now. Honesty in politics ?
@rory conway: Non existant.
@rory conway: He probably didn’t intend to run as he probably thought he’d be too old by the end of a 7 year term. Now that he is approaching the end of his term, maybe he feels differently about it. What’s wrong with that?
So X LIEBOUR TD goes back on his word.
Shocked …..
George Hook may be available.
@Chad Rockett: a President of Prejudice
@Fiona deFreyne: We have one already. Lefty prejudice. I forgot that is not meant to be prejudice.
@Chad Rockett: Gay Byrne???
How about a referendum to scrap the presidency.
Waste of taxpayers money, similar to the royal family in the UK, a mere figurehead.
Not needed.
@Trevor Hayden: Presidency has a bit more power than a figure head. Go look it up. I get your point but I think it’s a potentially useful office if there was no ties with the party currently in power.
@B9xiRspG: Not sure about that jim, but we’ll agree to disagree, if they had the power will to get rid of the Seanad ( another useless failed politicians club) I don’t see why the presidency would be any different.
@B9xiRspG: Higgins wouldn’t vote with the people when he had a chance to refuse to sign the Water Charge bill.He had a chance to be admired and he just went with the flow.
@Billy McNamara: That wasn’t within his remit.
@Tom Tom: Exactly, there’s the proof its a farcical position.
@Tom Tom: Look up the constitution know all.It was within his remit to refuse to sine the bill and refer it back to to Dail.He could have stood up for once for the majority of the Irish people and he bottled it.
@Billy McNamara: No, it isn’t in his power to do that.
I would like him too stand again. His speeches are edifying (can be bought in book form or downloaded), his vision is a noble and improving one, he has acquitted his duties in an excellent way, he has addressed humanitarian issues, such as homelessness, without unduly politicising them, he reminds us of issues which are longer term in focus and he represents a bettter, more decent and more compassionate Ireland than other candidates would.
I was not impressed by his words on Fidel Castro, I do not think that they were either appropriate our representative but I don’t require or expect that a Presidential candidate reflect all of my views.
I think that with a titular President such as President Michael D O’Higgins, there will be less scope for expression of hatred, bigotry and prejudice in every day Irish society.
If he stands again, he will certainly get my vote because I can’t see a better, more sincere, more enlightened or more decent candidate emerge.
I suspect that the Labour Party, under Michael D O’Higgins instead of Gilmore, would hav e been a more authentically social Democratic Party.
I would not forget the President’s Wolfe, Sabine O’Higgins who have been marvellous and inspiring as a First Lady. She has inspired alongside the President and they make a superb team.
President’s wife, Sabine, has been outstanding. Sorry for the typo “Wolfe”.
@Fiona deFreyne: yes, totally apolitical. Not.
@Dr Richard DeWitt: he expresses values and principles, but he does not expound party political partisanship.
Yes, he has his views, he expresses them, I don’t agree with all of them but he has the character, sincerity and mannner to do justice to the Constitutional office of President again.
I would like him to stand again. His re-election can be voted upon if candidates stand against him, as likely they will.
@Fiona deFreyne: what planet are you on? The Homelessness crisis has never been worse.
@croft.ie: and if the President’s wishes as a former member of the Labour Party had been realised, the crisis would now be less severe.
@Fiona deFreyne: it could be eradicated had he stepped up to the plate and said we really could do with 13billion in unpaid taxes…lets not waste more money fighting the decision made by the EU. He is just as useless as the rest of the politicians in this country and he will die a wealthy man whilst his fellow countryman and women die on the streets
@Piarais Mac Maoláin: i vaguely remember this now that you mention it. I recall some deluded people saying this was because he was such a hard worker
@croft.ie: The 13 billion is not ours. Best case, some of it is ours and Europe gets the rest apportioned out by us at our cost. Worst case (more likely) we get bugger all. Courts decide these things not politicians.
@Fiona deFreyne:
I see that you are happy to apologise for a simple typo but you can’t for disgusting comments about dead children in Portugal…..
For a long time I thought you represented the kind of centre left opinion that most people, whatever their political persuasion, could work with but not now.
Those comments about that tragedy in Portugal may be deleted Fiona-Tony-etc but don’t worry, plenty of us remember them.
Save us, Michael D! Save us from President Bertie, or Enda, or Joan, or Jarry! Hasn’t the country suffered enough?
In fairness to him, that easy €1.75million is hard to ignore.
It’s so embarrassing having an apologist for Fidel Castro as our President.
@Charles Spencer III: I don’t agree with the President’s remarks but I’m not embarrassed by the remarks.
Leave your sense of shame behind.
@Charles Spencer III: you carry the weight of the world on your oor shoulders
He is a hard left socialist and supportive of Castro and socialist regime in Venezuala that resulting in people starving on the streets. His time is up.
@Fred Jensen: the extreme hard right are highly antagonistic and hostile to the President, not merely in disagreement with him and opposed to his values.
Why not?where else will be get a job paying 250k a year for doing nothing
But he has ruled up giving his salary etc to charity..
@Patrick j Brady: had what he desired in political and social policy terms been followed, there would be far less need for charity.
Michael D should stay on. Easily the best and probably most respected President we’ve ever had. A very humble man, down to earth and a superb ambassador for our country.
@Michael Wynne: Everytime I see Higgins i think of that slaphead Gallagher. What a disaster he would have been. Similarly, looking forward, the idea of an RTE presenter as president sends a chill down my spine. Imagine an Irish visit to a disaster area: ‘and what was the WORST thing that happned to you…it must have been REALLY awful…is that a trace of a tear I see in your eye…”
Scrap the presidency.. Waste of money… However that probably won’t happen, personally I’d love to see a younger president.. Micahel has been good, just love to see a change of face, they get boring after a while
@Acedeuce: every country needs a Head of State.
Declared when he first went for the job that he was only going to do 1 term. So typical of politicians to go back on their word.
Is that a Shetland pony?
No second term.”Adios”
Petulant little champagne socialist who speaks total gobbledegook. Time for a change. Default President from Day One thanks to Pat Kenny
@Dolly White: l am glad you mentioned that Dolly because when Michael s`agai me appeared on Do Not Udder any circu.stances Feed The Gondolas back a few years ( C U Tube) he spoke normal like, obviousely he has been castrated since, akin the Capon chickens he favours so much (cryptic)
We the people deserve a vote on this. Not an automatic second term for Higgins
I think he has done an excellent job representing our country, I don’t agree with a few of the things he has said. Public revelations about other candidates did help him get elected, TG, he was by far the best candidate and has represented us well in the meantime. I’d much prefer if he rethought his original thinking and stay on for another term, we can’t be having Bertie or Gerry getting the job. It would be far more economical as well, we wont be paying a presidents salary and another presidents pension at the same time.
That has to be a Shetland pony in that picture.
@John Walsh: One of his PR people had their daughters my little pony in their pocket.
He loves being on the gravy train does our Michael. Tell him for the next term there will be no salary or perks and he’ll soon rule it out. He’s just another champagne socialist.
Labour TD says one thing before an Election,
is duly elected and
then decides to do the opposite to what was promised!
Shure isn’t that what Labour does at Elections?
‘When the debate is lost, slander becomes the tool of the loser’ Socrates.
An eternal truth except in the context of the Irish media when Michael D is involved.
He was losing a debate with Michael Graham on NTalk when he called him a w***er.
This was hailed as a great achievement in certain circles.
The loser goes for the man not the ball and he is considered the winner. Only in the Irish media.Then RTE make him president.
By their friends shall ye know them.
@Deano Cracow: Socrates also said KNOW THY SELF…..that’s my. Favourite
Another lying campaign promise. One term he said. So much for his integrity.
No only got it Alastair time out Due to Pat Kenny on RTÉ. He is Labour so hopefully there will be some one young able to get. Maybe be some of the Applo an give some of the money to homelessness . They wood get my vote.
Let him or Dustin or whoever run but give the people a vote on it.
Jasus that horse must have broken a record for been the world’s smallest horse!
He is a complete muppet. Flys around the would then bangs on about climate change. Says he cares about the unfortunate but signs the water bill in. Says he cares for the homeless does poetery.
Typical self serviant politician, promises hand on heart one thing years back before he becomes a president, then doesn’t keep his promise. Unfortunately I should not be in this conversation, because I cannot stand him, I think he is scruffy, talks like he is above us all, has about as much charisma as my undercrackers in my wash basket. Bring back Mary, or Mick Wallace for President! At least he has nicer hair and a better dress sense!
Is he asking Mr Ed there.
Who wouldn’t want Phoenix park at the back door lol.
If he gets another stint it will save us a few euros let him fire away
Ahh no we need a young Muslim president
RTE PRESENTERS BERTIE MICHEAL O LEARY BONO OR IF YOU PREFER GEORGE HOOK THE CHOICE IS YOURS..SCRAP THE WHOLE THING IT COSTS TOO MUCH ANYWAY
@James Mc Loughlin: de economy is gettin boomier like
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