ALL three local authorities on the Southside have now decided not to nominate a presidential candidate, with last week’s meeting of South Dublin County Council descending into farce.
Dublin City Council has already voted not to endorse any candidate for the 2018 Presidential Election while a recent full meeting of Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council decided not to proceed with a nomination process.
And the process at South Dublin County Council on Thursday night was disrupted after one candidate, Sarah Louise Mulligan, was escorted from council chambers after accusing Cllr Dermot Looney of making "smart" remarks.
"I'm sick of politicians,” Ms Mulligan declared. “Are you sick of politicians because I am – they're all talk and no action. I can talk for Ireland as you can see."
However, when Cllr Looney said: "I don't think you will be”, Ms Mulligan stormed: "What was that? Was that a smart comment? Don't you silence me. I have every right to stand up here and speak.”
She then confronted the councillor and demanded an apology before she was forced to leave.
It was at this point that a spoof character, Bunty Twuntingdon McFluff, aka Norma Burke, started shouting from the public gallery.
The filmmaker and actress had made a controversial presidential pitch to Dublin city councillors the previous week.
Cllr Francis Timmons (Ind) said the meeting was more like a Christmas Panto than a selection process for people running for President. He questioned the suitability of some candidates.
Cllr Timmons added: “I certainly would have hoped that the presidential campaign trail would be more dignified and becoming of the role of President and not the farce tonight was.