The first Presidential election since 1997 takes place next week. A number of students were asked on their views on the election, who they are considering voting for and of course why. There is now only a week until polling day. Labour’s Michael D Higgins and Independent candidate Sean Gallagher are well ahead of any other rival in recent opinion polls.
A large proportion of NUI Galway students said that they would be voting, the only no from 18 year old Sarah from Mayo who said “I don’t believe in the presidency it’s a facade.” Many were passionate about it and felt that it was important to have someone who is representative of Ireland and its values. “It is important to me” said Alex (18) from Galway and Morgane (19) from Cavan said “I will [vote] because I can and have to have my say”. Others did not feel it was so important. Stephen (23) from Galway said “I don’t think it really matters” and another, Eddie (23) from Galway stated “In the general scheme of things it doesn’t really matter.”
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| Aras An Uachtaran Picture: tripadvisor.com |
Were the views on the ground reflective of the opinion polls? Michael D Higgins was the choice of eight out of 23 students surveyed, David Norris, Martin Mc Guinness and Sean Gallagher all tied with three each and Gay Mitchell got one. Neither Dana nor Mary Davis got a single consideration and five students were undecided.
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| Voters will be asked to decide on referenda also on Oct 27th Picture: Google Images |
The siege mentality appears to be in effect with supporters of Sinn Fein’s Martin Mc Guinness; Grant (20) from Roscommon believes “the media have a campaign against him” and others felt that he was targeted especially on his paramilitary background. The appeal of Senator David Norris as a good ambassador for Ireland is the fact “he has no affiliation with any party”
The referenda also taking place on October 27th, the awareness of these was not very high of the same 23 who were surveyed 13 were aware and 10 were not. A few of those who were aware considered them “very important” and another Mark (19) from Kerry sensed the mood of the public “people don’t recognise how important they are”. Some simply have “no interest in referendum” while others said they “will read up on it before hand”.
The referenda are relating to allowing judges pay be brought into line for cuts along with other public sector work and secondly for a house(s) of the Oireachteas to be allowed to conduct their own investigations without forming a tribunal. The advertisements on television and radio about the referenda will help raise awareness of them and explain exactly what the proposed changes are.
