THE PUBLIC is opposed to the office of president being perceived as a “retirement role”, according to presidential hopeful Seán Gallagher.
In a radio interview while campaigning in the midlands, Mr Gallagher said: “Gay Byrne is a lovely man. It’s not about age.
“Before Gay Byrne’s name was ever mentioned, I made the point that before president Mary Robinson took over the role there was a perception that it was a retirement role and people said to me more recently they would like that it didn’t revert back to that.
“It’s not insignificant that Mary Robinson and Mary McAleese were both younger and then saw it as a job of work to do ahead of them rather then their job of work being behind them,” he told Midlands Radio 103.
On a visit to Mountmellick Development Association in Co Laois later in the day, Mr Gallagher refused to be drawn on the broadcaster’s rumoured entry into the race.
“I think that’s absolutely a matter for Gay Byrne and I am very focused obviously on my own campaign.
“There has been much speculation about candidates in the past and I am sure there will be lots of speculation about other candidates entering the race.”
When asked if he believed Mr Byrne could be beaten in a presidential election, Mr Gallagher replied: “I don’t think it is appropriate to comment on other candidates or the speculation about what somebody might do. For me, it’s very much about staying focused on my own campaign.
“I think it’s time that we raised the debate away from polls and personalities and start to talk about the real issue. What is the role of the president of Ireland . . . that is the real question,” he remarked.
Mr Gallagher told members of the development association that measures had to be taken to encourage and promote business in Ireland.
He was in the process of drafting a letter to Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation Richard Bruton asking the Government to address the “grossly unfair” system whereby employers who went out of business had no entitlement to social welfare.
Mr Gallagher cited a west of Ireland employer who had to lay off 10 carpenters when he went out of business. Mr Gallagher said all 10 were entitled to the dole yet their former boss could not receive benefits.
“That letter will go to Minister Bruton,” he told the enterprise group.
The current system did not encourage people to set up their own business as they had “no safety net”, he added.