AS THE presidential election campaign enters its final 10 days, frontrunner Seán Gallagher has come under fire for his lack of political experience from Fine Gael’s Gay Mitchell and Labour’s Michael D Higgins.
The candidates of both Government parties stressed their political experience as an essential component of their suitability for office.
Mr Mitchell, who was campaigning in Co Wicklow yesterday, said Mr Gallagher appeared to be running for the wrong job.
“Seán Gallagher is not going to be Minister for Innovation and Jobs. That is the problem. The job is a different job to the one Seán is applying for. This is a political job,” said Mr Mitchell.
He added that people were looking for a president with experience, not someone who would be learning on the job.
“The role the president can play is one of influence, to help bring about that confidence in the country. My reason for going for president is that I have vast experience as a politician,” he said.
The Fine Gael candidate was again joined on the campaign trail yesterday by former president of the European Parliament Pat Cox whom he defeated for the Fine Gael presidential nomination.
Mr Higgins also stressed his political credentials and his long experience in politics while campaigning. “What I have offered is my life and what I am offering is a significant portion of the rest of my life,” Mr Higgins said during a debate organised by intellectual disability group Inclusion Ireland in Dublin.
He said there had been no discussions on a voting pact between the Coalition parties to secure transfers from Mr Mitchell but he would welcome Fine Gael support. “It’s very important to be a candidate that people can transfer to with comfort and enthusiasm. But it’s not a deal. I think people are very, very wise. They know how to vote,” he said.
Sinn Féin candidate Martin McGuinness claimed to be the only non-establishment candidate in the election and he dismissed both Mr Higgins and Mr Gallagher as being part of the establishment.
“Michael D represents a party that’s imposing austerity on the people of Ireland and Seán Gallagher quite clearly represents a party that was involved in bank bailouts,” he said. “Seán Gallagher can’t get away from the fact that he was very much associated for many, many years with Fianna Fáil,” he added.
Mr Gallagher rejected the challenge from Mr Higgins to take part in a one-on-one debate, saying it would be unfair to the other candidates.