INDEPENDENT PRESIDENTIAL candidate Seán Gallagher last night insisted that his past membership of Fianna Fáil has not damaged his campaign.
Speaking in Waterford where he sought the nomination of the city council for his candidacy, Mr Gallagher said he hoped anyone involved in politics in the past would not be “demonised” for this and that new people should be encouraged to enter politics.
There was a mixed reaction to his presentation but some members of the city council, including councillors from Fianna Fáil, Labour, Sinn Féin and Independents, said that Mr Gallagher should be allowed run for the presidency.
However, others such as Cllr Hillary Quinlan said he admired Mr Gallagher’s record and personality, but added: “I happen to be a Fine Gael councillor and will be backing Gay Mitchell and, as you say on Dragon’s Den, for that reason, I’m out.”
Waterford city councillors will vote in the coming weeks on whether to nominate Mr Gallagher, who already has commitments of support from five local authorities. He needs formal nominations from four councils and those are expected to be forthcoming during September.
Asked after the Waterford meeting if the Fianna Fáil decision not to run its own candidate would help him attract support from the party’s traditional supporters, he said: “That’s a decision for Fianna Fáil. I won’t be seeking the endorsement of the Fianna Fáil party but I certainly welcome the support of all the parties. My message is not party political – my message is about confidence and putting jobs and enterprise at the heart of the next presidency.”
His past membership of Fianna Fáil, whose national executive he was a member of until last year, has not been an issue, he said.
“I’ve never made any secret of being involved as a member over the years. I think we need to encourage more and more people – businesspeople, women – from all sectors to get involved in politics. That’s what democracy is about. I wouldn’t like to think that any member of any political party – Fine Gael, Sinn Féin, Labour or Independents – would be demonised for being involved in politics. Surely we need to be encouraging more people.”
He stressed to reporters that he had “never been an elected politician” and was entering this election campaign as a businessman and Independent candidate.
“To me it hasn’t come up anywhere around the country and I don’t think people see that, because they do clearly see that my background is diverse.”
He told the city council that, if elected president, he intends to “roll up my sleeves” and represent Ireland abroad in an attempt to attract business and create jobs.
“What I would say to Enda Kenny on my first day, if I was honoured to be elected president, is: ‘I am young, I am energetic, I want to represent Ireland – put me to work.’”
Referring to the local authority nomination process, he called on political parties to allow free votes to their councillors and allow him to take his place in the election.