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Waterford Council to hold a special meeting to consider endorsing a presidential candidate

Waterford Council to hold a special meeting to consider endorsing a presidential candidate

Waterford City and County Council will hold a special meeting at the end of the month to facilitate the nomination of a Presidential candidate.

Candidates need the backing of at least 20 Oireachtas members or four or more local authorities to be added to the ticket.

Waterford Council will meet on July 31st after Independent Councillor Joe Kelly tabled a motion on the issue: "In order to support the democratic process, I believe it's the proper thing to do. We only every get a Presidential election, at best, every seven years, I think it's the right thing to do."

Sinn Fein's John Hearne agrees: "I think we need to vote for a president, people should have the right to vote for the president and we need to vote for it fully."

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In 2011, Waterford City Council voted to support Senator David Norris.

Meanwhile, the Sinn Féin president has said there are still several names in the hat when it comes to their presidential nomination.

Áras an Uachtaráin

Mary Lou McDonald claims the final decision will be made at a party convention but has not revealed who is up for consideration.

The party confirmed at the weekend that it wants to submit a candidate after Michael D Higgins' official announcement that he will seek a second term in office.

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Mary Lou McDonald was asked if she thinks he is unbeatable.

"He is no doubt popular and he has stated his intention to go before the electorate and if that is the case all of that will be demonstrated in time, said Ms McDonald.

"But that's not the reason why there was a question mark over the election. The popularity of the incumbent, let's be frank, wasn't really the issue.

"The issue here was that Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael decided that they didn't want an election."

Yesterday, potential presidential election candidate Gerard Craughwell risked undermining his campaign by claiming the highest office in the country is a “meet and greet job” that has no impact on the general public.

Mr Craughwell made the comments as ex-taoiseach Bertie Ahern threw his support behind rumoured candidate Joan Freeman, and as speculation grew that businessmen Seán Gallagher and Gavin Duffy and political analyst Noel Whelan could enter the race.

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