Sinn Fein Nomination for President in '11

[disgruntledcitizen]

However, it would be interesting what the reaction would be if they tried it.

i'd imagine the words feck and off would be involved in the response some how as they have about as much right as liverpool or glasgow council have in such matters

[TommyO'Brien]

Out of Bunreacht na hEireann

ii. by the Councils of not less than four administrative Counties (including County Boroughs) as defined by law.

Does that rule out councils in the 6 counties?

Just wondering.

Yes.

It is the councils in the 'state' as originally defined in Article 3 (ie, the area previously known as Saorstát Éireann, meaning the 26 counties), not the 'national territory' (32 countries, islands and territorial waters) as originally defined in Article 2. The key line was in Article 3 - "Pending the re-intergration of the national territory . . ." meaning that the constitution and its laws applies only to the area over which the state has jurisdiction, which is the 26 counties. That is also why people in Northern Ireland cannot vote in any elections, because the state has no jurisdiction under constitutional or international law there.

[ivnryn]

i'd imagine the words feck and off would be involved in the response some how as they have about as much right as liverpool or glasgow council have in such matters

Well, FF (and to a lesser degree FG) would be forced to say that the people of NI should not be involved in the Presidency.

The current President was born in NI, so there is precedent for involvement of the people of NI in the Presidency. In fact, it is the ideal office for that purpose.

Maybe some councils in the Republic could offer something like pairing to the councils in NI.

[TommyO'Brien]

The populace will decide if SF will have enough representatives or not. She is a good representative of the party and spoke well at the Ard Fheis.

They already have. The local elections have taken place and no more will take place between now and the presidential election. SF doesn't control four councils so cannot nominate a candidate by that route.

Unless a general election takes place, it will be the current Oireachtas who can nominate candidates. SF hasn't twenty Oireachtas members, or anywhere near 20, so cannot nominate a candidate by that route.

Ipso facto, there cannot be a Sinn Féin candidate.

[QuizMaster]

Well, FF (and to a lesser degree FG) would be forced to say that the people of NI should not be involved in the Presidency...

No they wouldn't. It would be a matter for the courts, nothing to do with the political parties. If they had any sense they'd just sit back and let the courts throw it out.

[Lucan Lefty]

yet....

I think Toiresa Ferris should be the SF candidate for President

She is too young.

[inherit the deficit]

She is too young.

Got nothing to do with it we aren't electing a new pope

Age aside its the quality of the candidate that matters, Toiresa Ferris polled well in Munster last year. So if the people look beyond the age of the candidate they also can look beyond a party label. The people of Munster did.

Never said that she would win the presidency.

But you may agree it would be a positive change from the stale politicians who ritually get the job.

[Lucan Lefty]

Have we not got an age limit for someone running for the President?

[adamirer]

FF ran McAleese, FG ran Austin Currie.. both have thus nominated Northenrers for the job - the only thing either party cares about is electing someone who'd win - not where they came from.

[adamirer]

you have to be 35 I think???