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FORMER DUBLIN LORD Mayor Councillor Christy Burke has announced that he is considering running for president.
Burke – who was first elected to Dublin City Council in 1985 – announced on Facebook yesterday evening that he was thinking of throwing his hat in the ring to run for the presidency.
“I’m a political animal,” Burke told TheJournal.ie.
“And I’m very interested in elections.”
He said he had been approached by locals in his area and members of his own team about possibly mounting an election bid.
“What we’re doing at the moment is we’re having a conversation and a discussion,” said Burke.
He said he was “very honoured” to have been asked to consider running, but that he was aware of the time and effort it would take – as well as the massive financial commitment.
“Presidential elections take huge commitment, huge money, travelling all around Ireland… that takes a lot of organisation, a lot of meticulous programming,” said Burke.
He said that the main parties “closing ranks” in terms of nominating potential candidates as well as the cost of mounting a campaign were what worried him about running, but that physically he was “up for anything”.
“I’m up for anything health-wise, energetic-wise, and I’ll put anyone to the test if they question that,” he said.
Election
There is a lot of debate centring around whether or not there will be a presidential election this year, with incumbent Michael D Higgins confirming this week that he would be seeking reelection for a second term.
Higgins enjoys widespread public and political support – with both Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael announcing that they would not be fielding a candidate to run against him.
However, he has come in for some criticism with Independent Senator Gerard Craughwell front and centre of those calling for an election (and announcing he will run if he secures a nomination).
If someone runs against Higgins it will be the first time a sitting president has been challenged in an election since 1966.
Burke agrees with Craughwell in that a contest should be held to give people an option.
He said he would run on a platform of housing for all and would work to comment on and address issues around how the country was run.
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Hardly news worthy
Wouldn’t want to be in a rush
@JoeyJoeJoeJrShabadoo: guards coming to a train in 40 minutes is fast, they usually take over an hour from experience.
@Paul: why not let the train go on time and take the guy with the problem off the train to report the problem, it is hardly a murder. Why does everyone have to pay for one stupid guy on the train?
“BATHROOM” on a Irish rail train???
‘Jacks’ ‘Cazey’ ‘Loo” Yea But ” Bathroom”
What have I been missing????
Hold the passengers hostage until someone confesses to something, anything at all.
Couldn’t tell my left from my right lol
@Anastasia: one with the watch
What a plonker.
“Anti-social behaviour”? Down with that sort of thing
Wonder if the incident happened at all. This train is regularly delayed due to this excuse. Probably like those bridges that get hit by trucks causing trains to be cancelled, yet the bridge is in perfect working order 20 minutes later..
@iMoan Brutal:
when a bridge gets struck it has to be inspected by engineers before it can be used .
@the truth: yes but most of the time there was no truck stuck or a truck anywhere near the bridge, just a train drive who slept in or taking an extended lunch. But recently they’ve stopped being stupid enough to name the location of the fake bridge hit
@Jayo Breathneach: Your right most probably true in some cases, but the amount of times its the reason on this specific route doesn’t add up, someones telling porkies either way
Why can’t the Guards pick up footage once train reaches its destination? Ridiculous delaying an entire train, all its passengers and rest of the network over a possibly stolen bag
Mis-carriage of justice ;)
No staff on board thought to check the carriages ? No need for the train to be delayed that long
@Suzie Sunshine: that would probably beagainst union rules
@James Brown: its making trains one person operated its company policy nothing to do with union rules
@the truth: Inter City trains have at least two or three staff on board.
shouldn’t have left his luggage unattended in the first place
he said he seen a fella walking off with it so hes stupid and a lying hoor.
@the truth: that’s the problem with “eyewitnesses ” sure didn’t some Irish tourist in medugorje see Madeline Mccann and heard her speak in english it turned out she was some croatian kid without a word of English
@iMoan Brutal: The bridges are fine because they’ve been checked by engineers to be structurally sound before the trains pass over it again ya mong! Maybe Irish Rail should just ignore all safety procedures just to stop you from whining? Jesus……
Fake news turns out to be true….
Bathroom? Was he having a bath? Are we all Americans now? Does the word toilet offend people?
What an idiot seriously
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