There is no point in voters complaining about corruption in public life and then voting for a party political candidate in the presidential election, according to Independent candidate Mr Derek Nally.
"There is something rotten in the state of Irish politics," Mr Nally said in a statement yesterday. "That is why it is essential that the next President is above all this party political infighting." A vote for an independent candidate would be a vote for honest standards and decorum. He appealed to people who would not normally vote to come out and say: "We expect better, we deserve better and now we're demanding better." People should not be influenced by opinion polls but should decide on the basis of whom they feel would be the best President.
"There is no point in giving out about corruption in political life and then sending a conflicting message to the parties by choosing their candidate for first citizen. Political life in this country has degenerated to a new low.
"Every day we're treated to the spectacle of the Dail chamber being reduced to a schoolyard with all parties bickering, mud-slinging and using every serious issue to score childish political points."
Mr Nally said the electorate was capable of making up its own mind without being swayed by "random polls".
"It would be a sad reflection on the Irish electorate if they made their decision on the basis of a poll taken a week before the election," he said. The leaking of sensitive documents, as well as the delay in commenting on them for five days, were both "reprehensible" actions, he went on.
"The one place every citizen can be heard loud and clear is in the ballot boxes. Take this opportunity to voice definitively your objection to the appalling behaviour of some of our politicians which has emerged in recent months. People should use their vote next Thursday to shout `enough' to our politicians."