Michael Collins (Cork South-West, Independent Ireland Party)

Today marked the close of nominations of candidates for the Presidency. Only three people will go forward for the Presidency of this country, which has a population of 5 million. Some very genuine people, one of them being Maria Steen, put their name forward only to be blocked by what can only be called a big party rigged system. This age-old-age process must be scrapped. Independent Ireland will bring forward a Bill in the weeks ahead to not only allow Oireachtas Members to vote for a candidate but that will also include our MEPs and give stronger opportunities to councils to nominate with the backing of 75 councillors. It will also include a preliminary round of voting similar to the French presidential model. That would allow a wider and fairer field of candidates. It is obvious to the tens of thousands of people out there that the process we have is wrong. Will the Minister commit to working with Independent Ireland to bring forward a Bill to put in a change to the effect that genuine candidates will face some regulation but will not be blocked by the bigger parties if they put their names forward for the Presidency?

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