Michael McDowell (Independent) | Oireachtas source

Any reason for opposing the amendment is a pretence that this matter is urgent and needs to be rushed through the House. There is plenty of time to discuss it and the only person who thinks it is urgent is one member of the Cabinet. The Minister told us it would take many months, possibly between eight and 18, to get the whole process going once the Bill is passed, so there is no huge urgency and we do not have to pretend there is.

On the presidential election, the Constitution provides that it is an elected office and it envisages that four county councils or 20 Members of the Oireachtas are entitled to nominate somebody for the position. The Constitution also states that an outgoing President can renominate himself without any such formalities so it is undemocratic to do a dog-in-a-manger act and prevent people from standing by not using the nomination powers we are given as Members of the Oireachtas to ensure there is a contest. Sinn Féin has at least 20 seats in both Houses and I hope it exercises its right.