Ganley joins chorus seeking contest for presidency in 2018

Declan Ganley has joined the chorus of people calling for a presidential contest next year – but has ruled himself out of the running.

The businessman and founder of failed political party, Libertas, insisted President of Ireland Michael D Higgins should not be allowed a second term without an election.  In a series of Tweets, the Abbeyknockmoy-based entrepreneur, also indicated that he was not interested in the job.

“With 129 (and growing) new patents for wireless technology that can change whole economies for the better, I already have my mission,” said Mr Ganley.

He said that President Higgins, who is abroad on a State visit to Australia this week “has a duty to end this nonsense about being gifted a second term without an election.”

“Ireland isn’t some tin-pot Republic,” he added.

When it was pointed out that Presidents Patrick Hillary in 1983 and Mary McAleese in 2004 both served second terms unopposed, Mr Ganley said they were “shameful precedents”.

“We should never allow that to happen to an Irish democratic institution again,” added Mr Ganley, who was unsuccessful in his bid to become and MEP for North West in the European Parliament elections in 2009.

He is the latest Galwegian to publicly state President Higgins – a former Labour Party TD in Galway West – should not get a free run.

Salthill-born independent senator Gerald Craughwell said he would put his name forward in order to force an election. Tuam-born Dublin TD, and junior minister, Finian McGrath, is also on record as saying there should be a contest.

Over the weekend, speculation resurfaced that Fianna Fáil was considering running a candidate, with former minister and long-serving Galway West TD, Éamon Ó Cuív, a frontrunner. Independent Senator Pádraig Ó Céidigh, of An Spidéal, was also mentioned as a possible candidate for the party.

President Higgins has said he will announce next year his intentions about whether he will seek a second term.