Fairer System needed for the election of Irish state President

louth | politics / elections | opinion/analysis Thursday October 07, 2004 12:12 by Henry Mc Greath Drogheda

We need for fairer system for the elecion of a President if this office is an office of the people. This involeves making some change in the constitution

Fairer system needed for election of president of Ireland

The democratic system is a farce when it comes to electing a President of Ireland. It all boils down to power, LSD and cash in the arse pocket. There are many good and able people out there who could fulfil this prestigious position well but are constrained by not having the finance to fund a campaign. I feel there should be free aid available to candidates who have not got the means to get nominated.

Belfast man Liam Sheppard has done more good things in Belfast than Mrs Mary Mc Aleese and came from working class background like Mary. Mr Sheppard was the first man to bring in the black taxis to the city and also the main instigator in getting food and accommodations for the many who had to run from the North due to the troubles. "Sheppard's Pass " in West Belfast is called after Liam. Liam Sheppard was not paid for his works where Mary Mc Aleese would have had a large salary for her toils in both sides of the Irish divide.

Other good choices would include Jerry Adams, Dr Paisley, Big Tom, Rosemary Scallon, Dermot Ahern, Seamus Kirk, Arthur Morgan, John Hanlon, Gay Byrne, Nell Mc Caffrey and many more. In the wider Ireland we have a vast wealth of talent that is trapped due to the Irish constitution that we are compelled by law to abide by. Every County in Ireland should have the privilege of electing a candidate for the office of President! Good talent should not be allowed to decay on the sidelines. If a person of average intelligence from outside of Ireland were to analyse the set up they would see there is something very immature within the structural system that elects a President.

The constitution needs to be changes as to allow a fairer system where say like in football you start electing candidates at local level then move on to county level, Provincial level and then the Finale.

If the president is supposed to represent the people at all times people should have a chance of electing their president. Candidates should be allowed equal publicity like say a documentary portrays on TV whether they can have means or not.

Furthermore, the salary of the president should be vastly reduced so as it does not become a home for ailing suckers or suckers for the political parties. A job for the boys as the phrase goes needs to be done away with.

Structural changes are needed and the agents within that structure need to be the local candidates who can go forward from say each County of Ireland.

Henry Mc Greath