Presidency Race: ‘The game is on, it’s just a question of finding the players’ - The Independents view in Meath

“The game is on, it's just a question of finding the players,” commented independent councillor Nick Killian on the presidential election and said he will be waiting to see who puts themselves forward before making any decisions on who to support.

Meath County Council has confirmed it has received nine expressions of requests for support and will hold a special meeting to meet candidates on Monday 22nd September.

Ratoath MD Cllr Killian said he feels it is important that there is an opportunity for independents to move forward and that it would be unfair if the larger parties objected to having a vote or voted against an independent when the hopefuls come before them on 22nd September.

“We have to bear in mind that as far as Meath County Council is concerned we have 11 independents, we are one of the larger groupings on the council and therefore I believe we should have the opportunity to vote somebody through, whoever that choice is.”

Cllr Francis Deane said he would wait until the meeting before he decides who he would support and that he hoped there would be a candidate that they could support as an independent grouping to go forward.

Trim councillor Noel French first off said he was completely against former MMA fighter’s Conor McGregor’s aspirations, saying he was a person he would be ashamed of if he was to represent the country. In terms of other candidates he added: “It would have to be a fairly outstanding person to get the council vote but I think the parties will shut down any nomination. We will have to sit through some people with axes to grind who have no hope of a nomination but the system allows people like that to exploit the situation and address councillors.”

In line with his party, Social Democrats Ronan Moore said he will be supporting independent TD Catherine Connolly.

“I think she is a very strong candidate and I think she has a strong track record in a lot of the issues she has spoken out against and for over the years.”

Aontú's Emer Tóibín said: “There are a few that haven't declared themselves yet so it would be way too early to say who I would support or wouldn't support.”

“When all the people declare, we hope that there would be somebody that we would feel would be a great representative for the country. We are pretty excited to see who else is going to come out of the woodwork.”

While Navan Cllr Alan Lawes would like to see an independent candidate in the Aras, he believes everyone should have the right to stand, not just those endorsed by local authorities.

“On a personal basis, I have great respect for Catherine Connolly. Through her years in the Dáil she has proven herself to be a very articulate and intelligent women and also caring and a humanitarian,” said Lawes.

“In the present world of politics, we need most of all, a humanitarian. I think she would be a positive and powerful stateswoman but I will wait to see who else throws their hat in the ring before I have any decision set in stone,” he added.

“However, as a councillor, I don't like the process where people just can't put themselves forward and have to be endorsed by councillors and TDs. I think it's anti democratic.

“People need to in my opinion be able to vote for the person of their choice, under this system, the person of their choice might not be allowed to stand.”

Lawes said he would like to see a younger president in office. “The presidency has been seen as a retirement home, I'd love to see a family with children in the Aras because we have a large section of the population who probably don't feel like they are being represented at the moment. If you are in your 20s and 30s a lot of those people can't afford to buy or rent a home, they are really struggling and need someone who they feel represents them.”

The independent Cllr has praised President Michael D Higgins for bravely voicing his horror of what is happening in Gaza.

“I think President Higgins has really done us justice over the course of this genocide that we are all witnessing in Gaza, he has freely gone above on what people would expect from a president but sometimes it is needed.”

Fellow indepenent colleague Laytown/Bettystown Cllr Geraldine Keogan says she is undecided on who she will support but that it will be an independent candidate. Meanwhile Cllr Carol Lennon says she has not been approached for support by anyone and is less than impressed with the current hopefuls. Similarly, Ashbourne based Joe Bonner says he will wait until “things settle down” before he comes to a conclusion but hasn't ruled out supporting a party candidate saying he would judge the person alone. As for Ratoath Cllr Yvonne Everard, local Lorna McCormack is getting her endorsement.