THE GOVERNMENT may delay the holding of the presidential election in October by a week because of concerns the legislation giving statutory effect to the poll may not be prepared in time.
The Cabinet will today decide on the date of the election at its final meeting before the summer break. It will also decide which referendums will be held on the day.
Taoiseach Enda Kenny named October 21st as the date of the election following the Fine Gael selection convention earlier this month.
It has since emerged the date may pose difficulties for completing the legislation that will back the presidential election and the two referendums expected to be voted upon on the day.
It is now expected the Government will announce the election will take place a week later, on October 28th. The referendums likely to be held are on judges’ pay and on reversing the Abbeylara judgment, which severely constrained the investigative powers of Oireachtas committees.
There is also uncertainty as to whether the Dublin byelection can be held on the same day. The Electoral Act, which stipulates that by- elections must be held within six months of a Dáil seat becoming vacant, was signed into law by President Mary McAleese yesterday.
The law does not apply to Dublin West, as the late Brian Lenihan died before it was passed. The Government has indicated a desire for the byelection to take place within the six months.
A number of prospective candidates in the presidential election continued yesterday to seek support from local authorities for a nomination. Entrepreneur Seán Gallagher told members of Sligo County Council he would, as president, welcome the pope to Ireland.
He would in that context have a conversation “about the needs of the Irish people”, he said.
The Dragon’s Den judge was one of seven prospective candidates, including Senator David Norris and Mary Davis, who addressed members of the council yesterday. Councillors deferred a decision until September.
Mrs Mary Davis, chief executive of Special Olympics Ireland, told councillors she deals with governments in 58 countries across Europe and Asia. She said the things Ireland was good at were land, food and tourism, and “that expertise needs to be championed”. Ms Davis, a member of the Council of State, has won the support of six local authorities.
Senator David Norris, who is still battling for a nomination despite being a favourite in polls, told councillors the presidency should not be a plaything for any political party. Describing himself as a liberal and an Independent “in thought, deed and action” as well as in the party political sense, he said he was campaigning on three key issues – mental health, enterprise and culture.
Later, Ms Davis told members of Laois County Council the country needs a president who could “repair, renew and rebuild the good name of Ireland”. Ms Davis is likely to struggle to gain the support of Laois County Council, where 12 of the 25 councillors are members of Fine Gael.
CANDIDATES: DECLARATIONS SECURED
A prospective candidate must win the backing of four county or city councils or 20 members of the Oireachtas to be eligible to stand in the presidential election. Candidates have secured provisional declarations from councils to date as follows:
Seán Gallagher:Roscommon, Longford, Leitrim, Clare, Donegal
Mary Davis: Mayo, Limerick County, Louth, Monaghan
David Norris: Fingal (Mr Norris has also secured declarations of support from 15 members of the Oireachtas.)