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INDEPENDENT TDS AND senators have failed to agree on a presidential nominee.
Nineteen independent members of the Oireachtas met this evening to discuss the issue.
A statement issued by TD Michael Fitzmaurice and Senator Gerard Craughwell, who organised the meeting, said the group failed to reach a consensus following a “robust debate”.
“After considering a wide range of views it became clear that it would not be possible to secure agreement for any single prospective nominee,” the statement notes.
Craughwell had previously declared his intention to run in the election but withdrew for financial reasons in July.
Prospective candidates, bar the incumbent president, have to secure the backing of 20 Oireachtas members or four local authorities.
On Tuesday, businessman Peter Casey became the latest official candidate. He joins President Michael D Higgins, Sinn Féin’s Liadh Ní Riada, independent Senator Joan Freeman and Casey’s former Dragons’ Den colleagues Seán Gallagher and Gavin Duffy.
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I’d say it was like an episode of the Muppet Show.
@Wayne Scales: yeah. They were all like the two grumpy fvcks in the corner
Disgraceful they did not nominate gemma,ff fg lab have colluded to block her as is the top journalist in the country exposing corruption.
@@mdmak33: so it’s Fg, ff and lab fault that none of the opposition will touch Gemma? How exactly does it make sense in your that the opposition will listen to the government?
@@mdmak33: They are cowards. taking instructions from FF/FG head office.
@@mdmak33: yes FF, FG and labour don’t want gemma getting nominated, but this was a meeting of independents.
@@mdmak33: you mean gemma who’s polling on 1% in a poll where the margin of error is +/- 3%
@Ian McNally:
More on party whips gagging councilors in order to block nominees.
Further evidence of FF/FG systemic corruption in the nomination process. Breda Gardner, independent councilor was present and explains:
Now watch the corruption deniers & party goonies attempting to discredit this councilor.
#sleeveenpoliticalcartel
@Ian McNally: Mary Robinson was polling at 1% at the start of her presidential election campaign
@@mdmak33:
What about the 449 Independent, SF, PBP and SD Councillors who also didn’t nominate her?
Absolute hypocrisy to blame some parties but not others when not one of them would touch her with a barge pole.
Quite right too.
Worst. Candidate. Ever.
@The Risen:
Comparing Mary Robinson to Gemma.
You’ve absolutely lost the plot.
Not even your beloved SF will touch her. Right too.
@The Risen: Could you show us some evidence of that.
@Tweed Cap: You really need to get a life. You are dangerously obsessed with Gemma O’Doherty and the her conspiracies.
The reality is that the vast majority of the County Councillors are carrying out the wishes of the people who elected them, and not nominating unsuitable candidates such as Gemma O’Doherty, Bunty McFluffypants and the the mad Roscommon farmer.
@CrabaRev:
Are you calling Breda Gardner a liar now too? Any thoughts on the corruption?
@@mdmak33: Gemma has been speaking to county councillors, telling them they’re all corrupt, then expecting them to vote for her. There’s an obvious flaw in her tactics. She’s running in the wrong election, she needs their nomination, she won’t get it by insulting them. She needs to run for The Dail and see how she gets on. I’ll predict she won’t bother as she knows she won’t get votes there either.
@Tweed Cap: Breda Gardner is a homeopath. That’s as much as I need to know.
@James McArdle:
But some councilors are corrupt James. Here one example- a FG one that was convicted:
It’s refreshing honesty indeed.
@The Risen: Any backup for your lie about Mary Robinson’s poling data?
@CrabaRev:
Ah, the old I’ll just undermine her chestnut. I actually predicted you’d do that in my original post. Honestly, have a read of it again there. Pretty pathetic and predictable stuff.
@Tweed Cap:
Of course there will be corrupt people who become County Councillors. That does not mean that all County Councillors are corrupt.
I am sure that there are people who wear tweed caps who are corrupt. Does that make you corrupt?
@CrabaRev:
I’ll keep calling out corruption where I see it and you can keep telling me to get a life whilst defending it. I’m fine with that.
@Tweed Cap: While there is corruption in Ireland, we are very lucky to live in one of the least corrupt countries in the world. Ireland is the 19th least corrupt country in the world based on Transparency International’s index.
The problem is you think that everything you don’t understand is corrupt. You are calling out corruption where there is none. And you are doing it over and over again. That is not healthy.
@The Risen: Gemma is no Mary Robinson.
A very disappointing process if the end result from councils and elected representatives is to pick 4 candidates, 3 of which are businessmen from the same reality tv show. Hardly a broad, diverse range of candidates to choose from.
Thankfully craughwell didn’t get the nomination. As for ‘Gemma’ – she never even had a shout. Big shout out to the Gemma-bots who seem to spring from the online bushes screaming “ITS A CONSPIRACY!!!” (it’s not – it’s just that she’s utterly unfit for public office).
@Paddy Downey: hey everybody, Paddy Downey says Gemma is unfit for office so whatever reason you like her for office, you are wrong.
Paddy Downey also confirms there is no collusion between the main political parties and their own councilors in selecting nominations for President.
Next time your in the election booth, make sure to give Paddy Downey a call and he will tell you who to vote for.
They are taking people for fools. They never had any intention of nominating anyone.
@David Clarke: do we really need any more, the list is long enough. Let’s just get on with it, give someone the spot and get back to real life.
@David Clarke: They, like all the County Councils, had no intention of nominating Gemma O’Doherty.
@David Clarke: _Independent_s are conspiring now?
I’d like to know who was at it. In particular I’d like to know if the TD that got my vote last time was at it.
Because he’s been ignoring my e-mails like he’s either a super confident man or he’s terrified of nailing his colours to the mast.
I’d say it’s the second one. Another cute hoor.
@Mick Barnier: I think they issued a press release listing the independent TDs and senators who attended, but not who they were supporting, if anyone
@Vocal Outrage: I would say that for every person who asked him to support O’Doherty, he had 99 requests not to.
Way to prove Gemma right lads…..
@The Risen:
Worst. Candidate. Ever.
@The Risen:
She was on 1% for a reason.
300 Irish women die from cervical cancer each year.
Last thing we need is an Anti Vaxxer.
@The Risen: Again your understanding of the concept of proof is a little lacking
Spineless the lot of them
What exactly is a “perspective” candidate please so that I can understand this article?
@John Lillis: A candidate that is large when close up, and small when far away. Perhaps they were considering Ardal O’Hanlon.
@CrabaRev: Thanks for the clarification!
@CrabaRev: I note that somebody perceptive at The Journal has changed the “perspective” in the article to “prospective”
@John Lillis: Nice one. Be careful the Journal.ie might offer you a job. If they do, run.
@CrabaRev: brilliant!! Best laugh I had following this shite, thanks for the laugh, sorry I did not think of it myself!!!
Thanks!!!
Gerard Craughwell seems to talk a lot about Presidential nominations.
When did she just become ‘Gemma’ with the bots?
Similar to Twink, or Dana.
It’s ….. ‘Gemma’
I guess they were all acting independently!
So it was revealed yesterday that varatcher and mehole ordered FG and FF councillors not to vote for Gemma
This is not democracy and just shows the is no opposition they are both the same
Disgraceful and Unnaceptable corruption
A shower of traitors.
Who among this group of 19 will take individual responsibility?
Is the Party whip to rule?
Are independents really?
https://mailchi.mp/60e261d3d23b/oireachtas-members-disgrace-themselves
@Diarmaid Ó CADHLA:
The role of TDs and Senators in this instance is to nominate suitable candidates for the role of President. The Independents clearly found that none of the candidates requesting nominations were suitable to stand for election. Norma Burke, William Delaney, Patrick Feeney, John Groarke, Marie Goretti Moylan, Sarah Louise Mulligan, Gemma O’Doherty and others have also not been considered suitable by the County Councils to which they have presented.
The Nominations process to run in a Presidential election in enshrined in the constitution. It is an excellent process that allow credible candidates to stand. The independent TDs made a decision today that is supported by 99% of the population. They should be applauded.
@Diarmaid Ó CADHLA:
I see you were not actually elected as a County Councillor but were co-opted. In fact you didn’t even contest the election in 2014. That’s not very democratic now, is it?
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