If the 1998 Oireachtas Committee recommendation on Constitutional change had been implemented there is no doubt Maria Steen would already be on the Ballot paper through popular nomination of 10,000 votes. There are 174 TDs and 60 Senators that have been voted in to serve the interests of their Constituients and to protect and defend the Principles of Democracy yet the vast majority of these public representatives have refused to nominate a popular candidate for the Presidential elections, against the will of the people of Ireland. What we are witnessing is the exposure of the RESTRICTIVE and UNDEMOCRATIC selection process, identified by the Oireachtas Committee over 27 years ago. The Irish people should have the right to directly elect their preferred candidate of choice as President of Ireland.

Posted by Fred Bassett