Presidential Election.

I don't want someone who will be silent on the injustices of the day. But I maybe would like someone who can meet with unpleasant leaders who we nonetheless have to work with.

Michael D Higgins met Trump briefly in 2019, staying at his golf-course. But he is also an outspoken critic of some of Trump's policies.

I haven't ruled out voting for Catherine Connolly, but I would prefer someone who is not as critical of NATO. I support joining NATO, though I recognise 59% don't.

I attribute the election of Michael D Higgins both to personal popularity, his support for social justice, and also a desire to have a President not in the pockets of the fatcats.

The problem is we need the fatcats too. They create the jobs.

Because he's a driven individual I suppose, who likes progression and success. That's why he's already as successful as he is. And after the presidency there will be another challenge he will look for. Just a mindset thing.

I'm more surprised about their choice of him than his decision to go for it.. Will he get votes from outside the pale? Also, are the attributes he has displayed behind his successes worth anything to the Irish presidency? He is obviously a master planner, strategist, and hard worker. Are any of those really required for the Irish presidency?

I'm thinking we need a charismatic charmer who knows how to sell Ireland to the world.

I'll never forget the gay marriage debate on RTE where the Iona rep. told a gay man who was raising his dead sisters children that he could not marry because marriage is about children.

She herself married her husband despite being infertile.

It does sound like impetus for this came from FF, not from Jim Gavin. The whole affair is slightly odd - doesn't seem like Gavin was overly interested in a career in politics or being President but then FF came along with an offer. There's a definite risk it could all go pear shaped.

I'm neither a FFer or a Dub but I'd be very attracted to Gavin as president.

Anything I've seen has been wholly impressive. He seems like a sound, respectful bloke.

Is his lack of appeal outside of Dublin going to be a serious drawback or is it something the 26 counties will get over?

I would suggest that a lot of people in Ireland simply don't know the guy or anything about him. Contrary to popular opinion, a large number of people have zero interest in GAA and wouldn't recognise Gavin if they walked past him on the street. Given his lack of background in politics or the media, he would be a total unknown at this point for many people.

FF and FG got re-elected to government less than a year ago, after being the previous government, and the one before that. and the one before that, etc. Their most recent election even saw them gain more power from their previous government, since they got to ditch the Greens in favour of a few far less demanding INDs.

And in the most recent local elections earlier in 2024 FF and FG got a combined 843k votes, to SF's 218k.

The idea that they "need a win more than SF do" seems rather out of touch with electoral reality. FF & FG are the consistent winners in Irish politics.

And given both LAB and SocDem members and TDs are already coming out with serious doubts about Connolly, now that her more extreme views are becoming more well known, its fairly unlikely SF will make the same mistake and row in behind her, need for a win or not.

Shes going to poll behind the FF and FG candidates guaranteed, and potentially any right-wing populist candidate that runs too if any can get enough nominations to run.

Her non-SF support base is only PBP voters and the harder left wings of SocDems/Labour/Greens, around 10% of the population at most if SF don't support her. And even with a grudging endorsement from SF would be likely capped at 15-20%, given a populist candidate will hoover up the substantial SF anti-immigration key issue votes.

Have some class man, FFS.

Would O'Neill becoming President be a step down for SF though? The President's role is arguably bigger than that of First Minister of NI. If MON ran and didn't win, she would simply stay on as First Minister.

There's already precedent of the Deputy FM standing down to run for President and returning after coming third.

Joanne Donnelly on rte radio 1 announcing she wants to run for President and has emailed all of the county councils.

That sounds a bit bonkers - can't imagine she would be a credible candidate in any way.