It really makes no difference.
Dana Rosemary Scallan wouldn't have been elected if there was a race, and McAleese would have been returned one way or the other.
As others on this thread have said, the Presidency in Ireland is not like that in the US. It's merely a figurehead role, with some responsibility for keeping an eye on matters involving the Constitution (which can't be changed anyway, without a referendum).
The main political player in Ireland is the Taoiseach (the prime minister).
Please translate that for us non-Gaelic speakers.
Dana Rosemary Scallan wouldn't have been elected if there was a race, and McAleese would have been returned one way or the other.
It would have been nice to have an election anyways.
As others on this thread have said, the Presidency in Ireland is not like that in the US. It's merely a figurehead role, with some responsibility for keeping an eye on matters involving the Constitution (which can't be changed anyway, without a referendum).
If Uachtarain na hEireann [President of Ireland] signs a bill into law, without referring it to the High/Supreme Courts (McAllesse has never referred a bill), it becomes law whether it's constitutional or not, it's up to private citizens to then challenge the law's constitutionality, but the Supreme Court Justices themselves have broken the constitution by basing their rulings on their personal opinions (as in the X-Case), rather than the compatibility of the law with Bunreacht na hEireann [Constitution of Ireland], as defined by that document:
BUNREACHT NA hÉIREANN
CONSTITUTION OF IRELAND
Enacted by the People 1st July, 1937
In operation as from 29th December, 1937
THE COURTS
Article 34
4. 5° The decision of the Supreme Court on a question as to the validity of a law having regard to the provisions of this Constitution shall be pronounced by such one of the judges of that Court as that Court shall direct, and no other opinion on such question, whether assenting or dissenting, shall be pronounced, nor shall the existence of any such other opinion be disclosed.
Article 35
2. All judges shall be independent in the exercise of their judicial functions and subject only to this Constitution and the law.
DeValera might not have had the wisdom the Framers had, but it's all that stands between our liberty and Euro-tyranny, and now the political establishment is p***ing it away.
The main political player in Ireland is the Taoiseach (the prime minister).
God help us with Bolshevik Bertie!!