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Why do you have to be older than 35 to be the President?

  • 01-10-2011 4:16pm
    #1
    Corsendonk
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,871 ✭✭✭


    Is there any legal reason why? Is it not ageist?


Comments

  • #2
    Seth Brundle
    Moderators, Politics Moderators Posts: 41,235 Mod ✭✭✭✭Seth Brundle


    It is ageist and I believe that the age limit is there to help ensure that we get mature quality candidates.


  • #3
    Corsendonk
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,871 ✭✭✭Corsendonk


    kbannon wrote: »
    It is ageist and I believe that the age limit is there to help ensure that we get mature quality candidates.

    Why don't we have that age limit for TDs then?


  • #4
    bath handle
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 370 ✭✭bath handle


    Corsendonk wrote: »
    Is there any legal reason why? Is it not ageist?
    It is specified in the constitution. Depending on whetheryou use the English version or the Gaelic version and how you construe the text, the age limit goes from 34 min to 36 min. if someone under 35 was nominated they could challenge it. There was some comment in the media thE Sinn Fein might have run Pearse Doherty who is 34 if he was older.


  • #5
    dinneenp
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,191 ✭✭✭dinneenp


    It's the sMe thing with needing backing before you can run. Shouldn't anyone who wants to run be able to? I know you'd end up with a long ballet paper but why stop me from running if I want to?


  • #6
    Victor
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 78,580 ✭✭✭✭Victor


    Corsendonk wrote: »
    Why don't we have that age limit for TDs then?

    There is - 21.

    Ageism is legal - only that certain parts of it has been made illegal.


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  • #7
    evercloserunion
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,889 ✭✭✭evercloserunion


    dinneenp wrote: »
    It's the sMe thing with needing backing before you can run. Shouldn't anyone who wants to run be able to? I know you'd end up with a long ballet paper but why stop me from running if I want to?

    Because seriously, we could get ballot papers thousands of names long. And it would be impossible to have a public debate while giving equal opportunity to all sides to get their point across.


  • #8
    Farcear
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 618 ✭✭✭Farcear


    Victor wrote: »
    There is - 21.

    Ageism is legal - only that certain parts of it has been made illegal.

    I think it's more correct to say that ageism is illegal, subject to certain limited exceptions. It's possible someone could take a case under the ECHR on the basis of discrimination.

    Realistically what sort of defence is there to this provision? People in their 20s and early 30s aren't mature enough to fulfil the minimal duties of the presidency (which are taken on the advice of the government / council of state most of time anyway)?

    evercloserunion wrote: »
    Because seriously, we could get ballot papers thousands of names long. And it would be impossible to have a public debate while giving equal opportunity to all sides to get their point across.

    Isn't there a cash deposit or bond that prospective TD's have to pay before running to prevent this kind of abuse?


    Provision for reference:
    4. 1° Every citizen who has reached his thirty-fifth year of age is eligible for election to the office of President.


  • #9
    Seth Brundle
    Moderators, Politics Moderators Posts: 41,235 Mod ✭✭✭✭Seth Brundle


    Farcear wrote: »
    People in their 20s and early 30s aren't mature enough to fulfil the minimal duties of the presidency (which are taken on the advice of the government / council of state most of time anyway)?
    That's a very sweeping statement. I know many twenty and thirty somethings who are very mature. Similarly I know of some who meet all criteria for being president but are absolute cretins.


  • #10
    Farcear
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 618 ✭✭✭Farcear


    kbannon wrote: »
    That's a very sweeping statement. I know many twenty and thirty somethings who are very mature. Similarly I know of some who meet all criteria for being president but are absolute cretins.

    My point exactly.


  • #11
    Seth Brundle
    Moderators, Politics Moderators Posts: 41,235 Mod ✭✭✭✭Seth Brundle


    Sorry - I thought you were making this claim rather than using it to represent a possible reason for the law.


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  • #12
    Marcusm
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,632 ✭✭✭✭Marcusm


    Corsendonk wrote: »
    Is there any legal reason why? Is it not ageist?

    The simple answer of course is that it is a provision of the US constitution and Mr de Valera as a good US citizen chose to impose it on his adopted country (Ireand) also.


  • #13
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 0 ✭ [Deleted User]


    Marcusm wrote: »
    The simple answer of course is that it is a provision of the US constitution and Mr de Valera as a good US citizen chose to impose it on his adopted country (Ireand) also.

    NVM.


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