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2018 Irish presidential election

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FieldValue
election_name2018 Irish presidential election
countryIreland
typepresidential
ongoingno
previous_election2011 Irish presidential election
previous_year2011
1blank1st preference
2blankFinal count
election_date26 October 2018
turnout43.9% ( 12.2 pp)
next_election2025 Irish presidential election
next_year2025
<!-- Michael D. Higgins -->image1
nominee1**Michael D. Higgins**
party1Independent politician (Ireland)
1data1**822,566 (55.81%)**
<!-- Peter Casey -->image2
nominee2Peter Casey
party2Independent politician (Ireland)
1data2342,727 (23.25%)
<!-- Seán Gallagher -->image3
nominee3Seán Gallagher
party3Independent politician (Ireland)
1data394,514 (6.41%)
<!-- Liadh Ní Riada -->image4
nominee4Liadh Ní Riada
party4Sinn Féin
1data493,987 (6.38%)
<!-- Joan Freeman -->image5
nominee5Joan Freeman
party5Independent politician (Ireland)
1data587,908 (5.96%)
<!-- Gavin Duffy -->image6
nominee6Gavin Duffy
party6Independent politician (Ireland)
1data632,198 (2.18%)
map_imageIreland 2018 presidential election.svg
map_captionResults by constituency:
**Higgins:**
titlePresident
before_electionMichael D. Higgins
before_partyIndependent politician (Ireland)
after_electionMichael D. Higgins
after_partyIndependent politician (Ireland)

Higgins:
The 2018 Irish presidential election took place on Friday, 26 October, between 7.00 a.m. and 10.00 p.m. President Michael D. Higgins, who was elected in 2011 with the support of the Labour Party, was seeking re-election to a second term as an independent. This was the first time since the 1966 election that an incumbent president faced a contest for a second term. Higgins was re-elected on the first count with nearly 56% of the vote, becoming the first president since Éamon de Valera to win a second term in a contested election (Seán T. O'Kelly in 1952, Patrick Hillery in 1983 and Mary McAleese in 2004 had been re-elected unopposed). He was inaugurated for his second term on 11 November.

The election was held on the same date as a referendum on blasphemy.

Procedure

Main article: Irish presidential election

To stand for election as president, candidates must:

  • be a citizen of Ireland
  • be at least 35 years of age
  • be nominated by:
    • at least twenty of the 218 serving members of the Houses of the Oireachtas (parliament), or
    • at least four of the 31 county or city councils, or
    • themselves, in the case of a former or retiring president who has served one term.

If a member of the Oireachtas or a County or City council nominate more than one candidate, only the first nomination paper received from them will be deemed valid. and under the Presidential Elections Act 1993, as amended. The President of Ireland is elected through Instant-runoff voting. All Irish citizens entered on the current electoral register are eligible to vote.

Nomination process

On 28 August the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government, Eoghan Murphy, signed the order for the presidential election, specifying the nomination period as between 10 a.m. on 30 August and 12 noon on 26 September 2018.

On 10 July 2018, incumbent president Michael D. Higgins declared that he would exercise his right to nominate himself as a candidate for the presidential election. Higgins's website and social media accounts became active on 17 September, having been dormant since his inauguration in November 2011. He formally nominated himself on 24 September.

Sinn Féin was the only party to select a candidate. With 28 Oireachtas members (22 TDs and six Senators), the party could nominate a candidate without the need for additional nominations from independents to reach the requirement of 20 Oireachtas members, as they had required in 2011. Nearly all other parties in the Oireachtas supported the re-election of Michael D. Higgins. People Before Profit declined to support any candidate in the election. Independent TD Michael Fitzmaurice had tried to gather the support of other Independent TDs and Senators to support a candidate, but was unsuccessful. Nineteen were willing to be involved in his effort to find a candidate, one short of the twenty required to be nominated. Eleven Oireachtas members signed a nomination form for Gemma O'Doherty, nine short of the required number.

18 local authorities passed resolutions supporting a particular candidate, while the remaining 13 either passed no resolution or passed a resolution declining to nominate any candidate. Candidates needed the support of at least four local authorities to be a candidate in the election.

NameOccupationResolutionsCouncils
Peter CaseyBusinessman4Clare, Kerry, Limerick, Tipperary
Gavin DuffyBusinessman4Meath, Carlow, Wicklow, Waterford
Joan FreemanSenator4Cork City, Galway County,
Seán GallagherBusinessman5Roscommon, Wexford, Cavan
Gemma O'DohertyJournalist1Laois
No candidate13Dublin City, Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown, Louth, Kilkenny, Westmeath, Kildare, Cork County, Donegal, Longford, Sligo

Others who had sought a nomination from local authorities were: Norma Burke, and John O'Hare. Sharkey withdrew his name from consideration during the nomination period, calling for the nomination of Gemma O'Doherty. Senator Gerard Craughwell had said that he would seek the nomination if Higgins were otherwise to be unopposed. However, in July he announced that he would not contest the presidential election, in light of Sinn Féin's decision to run a candidate. He also cited the financial costs of running for the presidency as a factor in his decision not to contest the election. Despite Fianna Fáil support for the incumbent Michael D. Higgins, a few of the party's Councillors urged the leadership to nominate Galway West TD Éamon Ó Cuív, but he declined to allow his name to proceed as he would risk his party membership.

Candidates

Six candidates contested the presidential election, having been selected by their parties or having received sufficient council nominations.

  • Peter Casey, a businessman from Derry who formerly appeared on the Irish version of the television series, Dragons' Den for the show's fifth and sixth series.
  • Gavin Duffy, businessman from Kildare and has been a dragon on Dragons' Den since it first broadcast in 2009.
  • Joan Freeman, founded Pieta House, a suicide intervention charity, in 2006. She served as its director until 2014. In 2016, she was nominated to be a member of Seanad Éireann by the Taoiseach, sitting as an Independent. She was supported by Rural Independent TDs Michael Collins, Michael Harty and Mattie McGrath.
  • Seán Gallagher, a businessman from Cavan who came second in the 2011 presidential election. He was a dragon investor in the first three seasons of Dragons' Den.
  • Michael D. Higgins, incumbent president.
  • Liadh Ní Riada, MEP for South since 2014, was confirmed as the Sinn Féin candidate on 16 September.

Debates

2018 Irish presidential election debatesDateBroadcasterModeratorscope="col" colspan="10"ParticipantsParticipant Absent inviteeCaseyDuffyFreemanGallagherHigginsNí Riada
27 SeptemberRTÉ Radio 1Áine Lawlor
13 OctoberRTÉ Radio 1Cormac Ó hEadhra
15 OctoberRTÉ One TVClaire Byrne
17 OctoberVirgin Media OnePat Kenny
23 OctoberRTÉ One TVDavid McCullagh
24 OctoberVirgin Media OneMatt Cooper / Ivan Yates

Opinion and exit polling

;Color key:

Last date
of pollingCommissionerPolling firmSourceCaseyDuffyFreemanGallagherHigginsNí RiadaIndependents}};"Independents}};"Independents}};"Independents}};"Independents}};"Sinn Féin}};"
RTÉRed Curl=https://www.rte.ie/news/2018/1026/1006954-presidential-exit-poll/title=RTÉ exit poll suggests Higgins on course for re-electiondate=26 October 2018work=RTÉ Newsaccess-date=26 October 2018archive-date=27 October 2018archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181027003527/https://www.rte.ie/news/2018/1026/1006954-presidential-exit-poll/url-status=live}}20.7%2.0%6.3%5.5%**58.1%**7.4%
*The Irish Times*Ipsos MRBIurl=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/irish-times-exit-poll-michael-d-higgins-on-course-for-decisive-first-count-victory-as-peter-casey-surges-into-second-place-1.3677340title=Michael D Higgins on course for decisive first-count victory as Peter Casey surges into second placeauthor=Pat Leahydate=26 October 2018newspaper=The Irish Timesaccess-date=26 October 2018quote=Opinion polls in the early part of the campaign estimated negligible support for Mr Casey. However, after his criticisms of Travellers, and his assertion that there was a growing culture of welfare dependency in Ireland, support appears to have surged towards Mr Casey in the final weeks of the campaignarchive-date=26 October 2018archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181026232246/https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/irish-times-exit-poll-michael-d-higgins-on-course-for-decisive-first-count-victory-as-peter-casey-surges-into-second-place-1.3677340url-status=live}}21%2%6%7%**56%**8%
*The Sunday Times*Behaviour & Attitudes2%4%6%11%**69%**7%
*The Irish Times*Ipsos MRBI2%4%5%12%**66%**11%
Paddy PowerRed C1%4%6%14%**70%**5%
*The Sunday Business Post*Red C1%6%3%15%**67%**7%
*Irish Daily Mail*Ireland Thinks10%3%11%**65%**11%

Result

The count began at 09:00 on Saturday 27 October.

Constituency results

ConstituencyHigginsCaseyGallagherNí RiadaFreemanDuffyVotes%Votes%Votes%Votes%Votes%Votes%
Carlow–KilkennyIndependent politician}}"25,717Independent politician}}"52.0%13,92928.2%3,5067.1%2,4194.9%2,6365.3%1,2652.6%
Cavan–MonaghanIndependent politician}}"16,749Independent politician}}"44.3%7,02318.6%6,77117.9%4,16711.0%2,0635.5%1,0002.6%
ClareIndependent politician}}"22,639Independent politician}}"54.7%11,72228.3%2,2895.5%2,1865.3%1,9694.8%6171.5%
Cork EastIndependent politician}}"20,388Independent politician}}"53.6%9,34024.5%2,6256.9%2,7057.1%2,2836.0%7161.9%
Cork North-CentralIndependent politician}}"18,851Independent politician}}"54.0%8,38224.0%1,9775.7%3,1128.9%2,0105.8%5451.6%
Cork North-WestIndependent politician}}"17,638Independent politician}}"51.5%8,09223.6%3,1999.3%2,8248.2%1,8555.4%6301.8%
Cork South-CentralIndependent politician}}"24,161Independent politician}}"60.5%7,32318.3%2,1645.4%3,0727.7%2,5546.4%6421.6%
Cork South-WestIndependent politician}}"16,860Independent politician}}"55.1%6,58221.5%2,3747.8%2,4898.1%1,6355.3%6802.2%
DonegalIndependent politician}}"15,052Independent politician}}"38.1%12,95232.8%3,6849.3%4,52411.4%2,5636.5%7471.9%
Dublin Bay SouthIndependent politician}}"20,765Independent politician}}"71.5%3,43311.8%1,1163.8%1,2214.2%1,8846.5%6262.2%
Dublin Bay NorthIndependent politician}}"32,198Independent politician}}"63.9%8,00915.9%2,5005.0%3,3156.6%3,3726.7%1,0102.0%
Dublin CentralIndependent politician}}"10,094Independent politician}}"66.7%1,69211.2%5293.5%1,74911.6%8685.7%2031.3%
Dublin FingalIndependent politician}}"27,039Independent politician}}"63.1%7,50517.5%2,3695.5%2,2905.3%2,6436.2%9862.3%
Dublin Mid-WestIndependent politician}}"17,196Independent politician}}"59.3%5,12817.7%1,4334.9%1,9786.8%2,7349.4%5261.8%
Dublin North-WestIndependent politician}}"14,728Independent politician}}"62.6%3,73715.9%1,1214.8%1,9328.2%1,5466.6%4511.9%
Dublin RathdownIndependent politician}}"21,704Independent politician}}"68.7%4,38513.9%1,4874.7%1,1413.6%2,1776.9%7112.2%
Dublin South-CentralIndependent politician}}"17,930Independent politician}}"65.0%3,79413.8%1,1054.0%2,2828.3%2,0397.4%4411.6%
Dublin South-WestIndependent politician}}"28,151Independent politician}}"62.2%8,32418.4%2,2374.9%2,5845.7%3,0116.7%9292.1%
Dublin WestIndependent politician}}"17,545Independent politician}}"62.1%4,88717.3%1,4305.1%1,8426.5%2,0537.3%5141.8%
Dún LaoghaireIndependent politician}}"31,513Independent politician}}"70.2%5,87213.1%2,0444.6%1,5963.6%2,8666.4%1,0002.2%
Galway EastIndependent politician}}"18,011Independent politician}}"53.4%11,22733.3%1,3794.1%1,0293.1%1,5454.6%5161.5%
Galway WestIndependent politician}}"29,612Independent politician}}"62.4%10,82122.8%1,7833.8%2,1614.6%2,4455.1%6601.4%
KerryIndependent politician}}"25,078Independent politician}}"50.1%13,75227.5%2,8565.7%4,2538.5%3,1026.2%1,0372.1%
Kildare NorthIndependent politician}}"23,103Independent politician}}"61.3%7,21019.1%2,2586.0%1,5234.0%2,7517.3%8442.2%
Kildare SouthIndependent politician}}"14,766Independent politician}}"56.9%5,81922.4%1,8297.0%1,3075.0%1,6196.2%6332.4%
LaoisIndependent politician}}"13,754Independent politician}}"49.8%8,41930.5%1,8456.7%1,4435.2%1,4645.3%7182.6%
Limerick CountyIndependent politician}}"15,262Independent politician}}"48.1%10,86534.2%1,7565.5%1,4384.5%1,7625.6%6582.1%
Limerick CityIndependent politician}}"18,904Independent politician}}"57.7%7,84523.9%1,5574.8%1,9646.0%1,9175.9%5781.8%
Longford–WestmeathIndependent politician}}"18,024Independent politician}}"47.5%12,00531.6%2,8737.6%2,0895.5%2,1225.6%8292.2%
LouthIndependent politician}}"26,291Independent politician}}"58.4%7,22316.0%2,9346.5%4,1759.3%2,2915.1%2,1014.7%
MayoIndependent politician}}"20,642Independent politician}}"49.8%12,85031.0%2,2355.4%2,1075.1%2,6636.4%9372.3%
Meath EastIndependent politician}}"16,754Independent politician}}"56.7%6,06420.5%2,0607.0%1,6545.6%1,8836.4%1,1423.9%
Meath WestIndependent politician}}"14,522Independent politician}}"54.1%5,91722.0%1,9437.2%1,8476.9%1,7276.4%9043.4%
OffalyIndependent politician}}"13,977Independent politician}}"47.0%9,25331.1%2,6729.0%1,4444.9%1,6915.7%6732.3%
Roscommon–GalwayIndependent politician}}"14,246Independent politician}}"45.1%10,91834.5%2,2707.2%1,6175.1%1,8505.9%7132.3%
Sligo–LeitrimIndependent politician}}"20,601Independent politician}}"49.1%11,13226.5%3,7498.9%3,1727.6%2,4755.9%8592.0%
TipperaryIndependent politician}}"24,917Independent politician}}"45.5%20,14936.8%3,0775.6%2,8275.2%2,7235.0%1,1062.0%
WaterfordIndependent politician}}"18,609Independent politician}}"52.2%8,82224.7%2,5307.1%2,8378.0%2,0255.7%8472.4%
WexfordIndependent politician}}"27,020Independent politician}}"55.5%11,81824.3%3,4997.2%2,9396.0%2,2724.7%1,1612.4%
WicklowIndependent politician}}"31,555Independent politician}}"63.0%8,50717.0%3,4496.9%2,7335.5%2,8205.6%1,0432.1%
Total822,56655.8%342,72723.3%94,5146.4%93,9876.4%87,9086.0%32,1982.2%

Analysis

''The Irish Times'''s analysis of its exit poll data said that Michael D. Higgins seemed on course to be comfortably re-elected on the first count, after leading in the opinion polls throughout the campaign, despite "considerable criticism over his use of the Government jet, expensive hotel accommodation on overseas visits and the lack of transparency over how an annual €300,000 allowance for his office was spent". It attributed the expected low turnout to "a lack of public enthusiasm for the contest that was evident throughout the campaign".

It ascribed Peter Casey's second place to a late surge of support following his criticisms of Travellers and his claim that Ireland had "a growing culture of welfare dependency", and it added that at some polling stations pollsters reported that "he was attracting as many voters as Mr Higgins". It said that Seán Gallagher appeared to be down 22% on his 2011 figure of 29%, but that the biggest disappointment would probably be for Sinn Féin, whose candidate Liadh Ní Riada's expected 8% was well down on its general election result, and only a third of the party's support in the latest Irish Times/Ipsos MRBI Opinion poll. It described Senator Joan Freeman's expected performance as "just 6 per cent of the vote", and Gavin Duffy's expected result as him having "flopped completely, ending a miserable campaign with just 2 per cent of the vote".

When analysing the Red C/RTÉ exit poll, RTÉ Political Correspondent Martina Fitzgerald said that the data showed that President Higgins was very popular among voters regardless of age and gender but was particularly popular among women and younger votes despite the debate about his age, which most voters saw as irrelevant. The most important factor cited by voters was the candidates' track record and expertise, while the finances and salary of the president were the least important factor.

Fitzgerald added that "the real political story" was that the result was "a disastrous election" for Sinn Féin, and "a serious blow" for which party leader Mary Lou McDonald would have to take "full responsibility". Fitzgerald also noted that the combined total of the three former Dragons Den judges (Casey, Gallagher, and Duffy) was very similar to Gallagher's vote in 2011, suggesting that vote had held up, but that Casey had taken most of it this time.

References

References

  1. (October 2018). "Presidential election results". The Irish Times.
  2. (28 August 2018). "Minister Murphy makes Presidential Election Order".
  3. (24 September 2018). "Public Notice Presidential Election 2018 Nomination of Candidates".
  4. (27 October 2018). "Higgins re-elected for seven more years as President". RTÉ News.
  5. (21 September 2018). "Thirty-seventh Amendment of the Constitution (Repeal of offence of publication or utterance of blasphemous matter) Bill 2018".
  6. (October 2015). "Constitution of Ireland". [[Attorney General of Ireland]].
  7. "Presidential Elections Act 1993". Presidential Returning Officer.
  8. "Presidential election: Everything you need to know before voting". The Irish Times.
  9. (25 July 2011). "Electoral (Amendment) Act 2011". [[Attorney General of Ireland]].
  10. (10 July 2018). "Michael D Higgins confirms he will seek second term". The Irish Times.
  11. Lehane, Micheál. (10 July 2018). "Michael D Higgins to seek second term as president".
  12. Fitzgerald, Cormac. (25 September 2017). "Over 75% of people want Michael D to serve a second term as president". [[TheJournal.ie]].
  13. McQuinn, Cormac. (18 September 2018). "President Michael D Higgins back on Twitter as he kicks off Áras re-election campaign".
  14. (27 September 2018). "People Before Profit Statement on the Presidential Election".
  15. McGee, Harry. (19 September 2018). "Independent TDs and Senators fail to agree on presidential nomination process". The Irish Times.
  16. McNamee, Gareth. (26 September 2018). "It's official - six candidates to contest presidential election as nomination process ends".
  17. (21 September 2018). "Public Notice Presidential Election 2018 Nomination of Candidates".
  18. (25 September 2018). "Public Notice Presidential Election 2018 Nomination of Candidates".
  19. "Peter Casey receives first council nomination for presidential race". The Irish Times.
  20. O'Carroll, Sinead. (18 September 2018). "Peter Casey is on the presidential election ballot paper as he receives 4th council nomination".
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  22. (21 September 2018). "Public Notice Presidential Election 2018 Nomination of Candidates".
  23. (12 September 2018). "Public Notice Presidential Election 2018 Nomination of Candidates".
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  25. (24 September 2018). "Presidential candidates submit nomination papers". [[RTÉ News]].
  26. (25 September 2018). "Public Notice Presidential Election 2018 Nomination of Candidates".
  27. Pollak, Sorcha. (13 September 2018). "Dublin City Council votes not to endorse candidate as Áras race turns farcical". [[The Irish Times]].
  28. Ó Cionnaith, Fiachra. (17 September 2018). "Nearly 25% of councils decline to nominate presidential candidate".
  29. (25 September 2018). "Presidential round up: Full list of who local authorities backed". [[The Irish Times]].
  30. Gleeson, Colin. (20 September 2018). "Presidential hopeful Sarah Louise Mulligan ejected from Dublin meeting". The Irish Times.
  31. (5 September 2018). "Special meeting of Fingal County Council to consider Presidential nomination requests". Irish Examiner.
  32. (17 September 2018). "Presidential election hopefuls to seek Tipperary Co. Council nomination tomorrow". The Nationalist.
  33. (17 September 2018). "Kevin Sharkey pulls out of Presidential race". [[Irish Examiner]].
  34. Finn, Christina. (15 August 2017). "Running for president of Ireland is not something I would do willy-nilly, but we need a contest". [[TheJournal.ie]].
  35. Dunne, Seán. (15 August 2017). "Senator to run against Higgins to ensure election for presidency". [[The Irish Times]].
  36. (23 July 2018). "Craughwell will not contest Presidential Election". RTÉ News.
  37. Murray, Sean. "Gerard Craughwell says he's not running for the presidency because he can't afford it". TheJournal.ie.
  38. Ó Cionnaith, Fiachra. (7 September 2018). "Éamon Ó Cuív quit race over Fianna Fail threat".
  39. (18 September 2018). "Peter Casey secures nomination to contest presidency". RTÉ News.
  40. Brophy, Daragh. (14 September 2018). "Businessman Gavin Duffy becomes fourth official candidate in presidential race".
  41. "Gavin Duffy confirms he wants to run for presidency". The Irish Times.
  42. (10 September 2018). "Freeman and Gallagher both secure nominations for Áras bids". RTÉ News.
  43. Bardon, Sarah. (5 July 2018). "Joan Freeman may be seeking nomination to run for presidency". The Irish Times.
  44. Ryan, Philip. (6 July 2018). "'Darkness into Light' campaign founder seeks nomination for the Áras".
  45. Kelly, Fiach. (24 July 2018). "Joan Freeman asks councils to hold meetings to help possible presidential candidates". The Irish Times.
  46. (29 August 2018). "Seán Gallagher to seek nomination for Presidential Election". RTÉ News.
  47. (16 September 2018). "Sinn Féin nominates Liadh Ní Riada to contest the Presidential Election". RTÉ News.
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  51. (2 October 2018). "Higgins to take part in three presidential debates". [[RTÉ News]].
  52. (26 October 2018). "RTÉ exit poll suggests Higgins on course for re-election". RTÉ News.
  53. Pat Leahy. (26 October 2018). "Michael D Higgins on course for decisive first-count victory as Peter Casey surges into second place". The Irish Times.
  54. (20 October 2018). "Higgins holding lead in race for Presidency, poll suggests". RTÉ News.
  55. (17 October 2018). "Higgins holds huge poll lead over all rivals". The Irish Times.
  56. McMorrow, Conor. (12 October 2018). "Poll suggests significant lead for Higgins". RTÉ News.
  57. (16 September 2018). "Latest polls suggest President Higgins on course for landslide re-election". [[Irish Independent]].
  58. (30 August 2018). "New poll reveals Michael D holds a crushing lead over presidential rivals". Extra.ie.
  59. (1 February 2019). "Presidential Election Results 1938-2018".
  60. (27 October 2018). "2018 results". Presidential Election returning officer.
  61. Martina Fitzgerald. (27 October 2018). "Sinn Féin - the big story of the Presidential Election". RTÉ News.
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