Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

Gavin Duffy Wanderley Massafelli/RollingNews.ie

Duffy says Higgins speaks to people's heads but he speaks to their hearts

The businessman also said he wouldn’t be a ‘Trump president’.

GAVIN DUFFY HAS said he speaks to people’s hearts, while President Michael D Higgins speaks to their heads.

Yesterday the businessman announced his intention to challenge Higgins for the presidency. He is seeking the support of four local authorities.

Speaking about why he thinks people should vote for him, Duffy told Morning Ireland: “You have to speak on behalf of the people of Ireland, I’m somebody who’s a professional speaker, that’s what I do and that’s my track record and I think I’ll be able to do that very well.

“I did say yesterday, I think President Higgins, if there’s a difference, I think he talks to our heads, I think I’d be slightly different and talk to people’s hearts.”

Duffy said the fact he is known as a former investor on reality TV show Dragons’ Dens has both pros and cons.

What am I? I’m somebody people know through Dragons’ Den which, to be honest with you, is as much a disadvantage as it is an advantage because people think, ‘Oh, reality TV, another Trump president’, I would be very, very different.

Duffy said he thinks he’s qualified for the role for a number of reasons, including the fact he has “sound judgement” and experience advising others.

Presenter Gavin Jennings then pointed out that Duffy has previously advised both Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil.

Hunting 

Duffy said his career involves “spotting potential in people – in emerging leaders, be they in corporate or communities, helping them achieve their potential, go back into their businesses or into their communities and do good”.

He said he would love to represent the people of Ireland.

I actually would love to be out meeting the people of Ireland, representing them, it’s something I look forward to, I’ve the energy for it. I will communicate on their behalf, I will express the mood of the country at times of national tragedy or triumph.

Both the Animal Rights Action Network and the Irish Council Against Blood Sports have criticised Duffy said he announced his intention to run.

In its statement, the council said animal welfare groups are “outraged” at Duffy’s presidential bid.

Duffy is a former president of the Hunting Association of Ireland and previously defended the Ward Union Hunt when the Green Party wanted to ban it.

When asked about this, Duffy said the hunt in question is “not a bloodsport” and that no deers are killed.

Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

View 115 comments
Close
115 Comments
This is YOUR comments community. Stay civil, stay constructive, stay on topic. Please familiarise yourself with our comments policy here before taking part.
Leave a Comment
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute BlueSkyThinking
    Favourite BlueSkyThinking
    Report
    Sep 14th 2018, 10:00 AM

    This is a huge story, there were 70 gas related incidents across two large residential areas of Boston, nearly 150,000 people were requested to evacuate their homes.
    I don’t think this article is doing it justice.

    79
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute GClare
    Favourite GClare
    Report
    Sep 14th 2018, 7:59 AM

    So who over pressurised the gas line, the nearest Muslim or the Russian tourists??

    54
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Paddington C.
    Favourite Paddington C.
    Report
    Sep 14th 2018, 8:06 AM

    @GClare: sometimes things just go wrong… I love that you guys don’t realise you’re the conspiracy theorists when you say that accusing the Russian “tourists” is a conspiracy.

    45
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Chris Linehan
    Favourite Chris Linehan
    Report
    Sep 14th 2018, 8:34 AM

    @Paddington C.: wooosh

    55
    See 2 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Paddington C.
    Favourite Paddington C.
    Report
    Sep 14th 2018, 8:38 AM

    @Chris Linehan: I don’t think it’s a case of “whoosh” but I could be wrong.

    5
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Brendan Hughes
    Favourite Brendan Hughes
    Report
    Sep 14th 2018, 10:08 AM

    @Paddington C.: double whoosh

    25
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute chinaski
    Favourite chinaski
    Report
    Sep 14th 2018, 8:18 AM

    Sorry to be a a grammar Nazi, but “too blame”? Sigh.

    41
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Bingobango
    Favourite Bingobango
    Report
    Sep 14th 2018, 1:26 PM

    @chinaski: “Sorry to be a a grammar Nazi”???

    6
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Dave Walsh
    Favourite Dave Walsh
    Report
    Sep 14th 2018, 8:16 AM

    Could it be the cost of deregulation?

    12
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Irish Political GIF
    Favourite Irish Political GIF
    Report
    Sep 14th 2018, 9:48 AM

    You do have to giggle at the anti wind farm lobby using natural gas funded studies to pretend ficticious vibrations are melting their brain. Meanwhile in Boston….

    10
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Steve B
    Favourite Steve B
    Report
    Sep 14th 2018, 12:10 PM

    I wouldn’t discount Chinese hackers doing a proof-of-concept test. This is exactly the type of chaos that can be caused in a cyber war.

    7
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Mark Pom
    Favourite Mark Pom
    Report
    Sep 14th 2018, 9:46 AM

    Leeks made from gas…. no wonder there were explosions

    9
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Micheal S. O' Ceilleachair
    Favourite Micheal S. O' Ceilleachair
    Report
    Sep 14th 2018, 1:21 PM

    @Mark Pom: The Welsh will be pleased with the reference to leeks!!

    5
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Sorcha Hendry instagram: @SorchaHendry86
    Favourite Sorcha Hendry instagram: @SorchaHendry86
    Report
    Sep 14th 2018, 8:04 AM

    @GClare that could of been a gas leek and everyone tried to cook at the same time

    7
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute John Tierney
    Favourite John Tierney
    Report
    Sep 14th 2018, 1:05 PM

    Putin at it again!

    2
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.

Leave a commentcancel

 
JournalTv
News in 60 seconds