By Editorial
The announcement underlines the challenge faced by the main political parties in finding a candidate who can fill President Michael D Higgins鈥檚 shoes when he steps down in November. That is brought home even more starkly by the Sunday Independent poll published today.
Among all the prominent figures whose names have been touted as potential contenders for Fianna F谩il, Fine Gael and Sinn F茅in, every single one of them is being soundly beaten by 鈥渘one of the above鈥 when respondents are asked for which of them they are most likely to vote.
It is hardly what one would call a vote of confidence in the political class of 2025.
The frontrunner remains former European commissioner Mairead McGuinness 鈥 but can a Fine Gael nominee really bring the prize home for the first time since independence? History is against her. Early pacesetters also rarely emerge victorious in the race to be president.
While Joe Duffy may not be heading to the Phoenix Park in the autumn, hopefuls contemplating dipping a toe into those turbulent waters will undoubtedly need some of the broadcaster鈥檚 personal qualities to get across the line.
A ready humour would be equally welcome in an increasingly unsettled world
Being well liked and widely trusted goes a long way in the present climate of public disenchantment with the establishment. Having an instinctive connection with those who are sometimes condescendingly called 鈥渙rdinary people鈥 does not hurt either. A ready humour would be equally welcome in an increasingly unsettled world.
Unfortunately, finding a candidate who ticks all of the boxes might prove a bridge too far this time.
Back in his heyday, Bertie Ahern would have seemed like a shoo-in 鈥 but his reputation has never recovered from the Mahon Tribunal into alleged illegal payments made to politicians in charge of planning and rezoning decisions.
The three-time general election winner continues to reject its findings that he was less than truthful in his evidence, but a presidential race spent raking through those ashes again would be unpleasant.
Few of the other names being bandied about inspire any greater enthusiasm. Unless something dramatic happens over the summer to change the picture, the presidential election could be end up being the dampest of squibs.
It speaks of a serious lack of talent in public life that none of the established parties seems capable 鈥 as yet 鈥 of finding a would-be president who could command inclusive support.
The political climate has never been more divided. That too is highlighted in our poll this weekend. If there was to be a general election tomorrow, the results say that combined support for Fianna F谩il and Fine Gael would drop below 40pc for the first time, a 10-point drop in less than a decade.
As recently as 2007, they were nudging close to 70pc between them.
On the basis of this poll, the Coalition should consider itself extremely fortunate that it faces such a fractured opposition 鈥 and luckier still that 鈥渘one of the above鈥 has never been added as an option to the actual ballot paper, or they might all be seeking alternative employment.