Independent Ireland to bring forward bill seeking referendum on presidential nomination reform.
Independent Ireland to bring forward bill seeking referendum on presidential nomination reform.
Independent Ireland has today confirmed it has commenced the process of bringing a bill before the Dáil to call for a referendum on reforming the presidential nomination system.
The party said recent events around this year’s presidential election have highlighted “an affront to democracy that can no longer be ignored.”
“The current system is convoluted and places far too much power in the hands of too few people,” Party Leader Michael Collins said. “While we recognise that not everybody who thinks they can be president should automatically appear on the ballot, the barriers are now set so high that Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael can effectively issue diktats, stifle democracy, and deny the people their right to decide. We also need to return power to our democratically elected councillors in this process”
Independent Ireland will propose two key reforms:
Oireachtas and MEP nominations: The current requirement of 20 Oireachtas members will be updated to reflect Ireland’s EU membership. Nominations will instead require the support of 20 members drawn from the combined pool of 160 TDs, 60 Senators, and 14 MEPs — a total of 234 elected representatives. This ensures that 20 votes would equate to 8.5 per cent of the total, broadening representation and reflecting Ireland’s role in Europe.
Council nominations: In line with the same principle of proportionality (8.5 per cent), presidential hopefuls would be able to secure a nomination with the backing of 80 individual councillors from across the country. This would replace the outdated system that requires an entire council to act collectively, giving councillors the freedom to make their own democratic choice.
The party confirmed that drafting work has already begun and the bill will be brought before the Dáil as soon as the legislative process allows.
“This is about trust in our democracy,” Michael Collins TD added. “The people of Ireland deserve the right to choose from a genuinely open field of candidates, not one curated and controlled by the establishment. That is why we are seeking this referendum.”
