Independent businessman Gareth Sheridan throws hat in presidential campaign ring as fellow independents vie for nomination contention
Businessman Gareth Sheridan Announces Presidential Bid in Ireland
Gareth Sheridan, the founder and CEO of US-based pharmaceutical company Nutriband, has announced his candidacy for the Irish presidency. The 36-year-old businessman, who will turn 36 in two weeks, plans to present a "positive vision for the country his children will grow up in."
Sheridan's nomination process involves securing the support of at least 20 members of the Oireachtas (national parliament) or backing from four local councils. The independent candidate is focusing on rallying support specifically from councillors, including Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil councillors, to meet the nomination threshold.
Fianna Fáil councillors may have a free vote on nominations, enabling a degree of independent support for Sheridan within that party's local representatives. This approach is seen as a way to enable participation by candidates like Sheridan who may not have formal party backing but can garner sufficient local council support.
On the other hand, Fine Gael’s nomination process for their own candidate differs, requiring internal party nominations from 20 parliamentary members, 25 party councillors, and 5 executive council members. However, Fine Gael councillors, as individuals, can potentially support Sheridan's nomination if they choose, especially since the nomination threshold can also be met through local councils rather than strictly Oireachtas members.
Sean Gallagher, a previous chairman of Nutriband and an unsuccessful candidate for president in 2011 and 2018, is one of the candidates Sheridan follows in seeking a nomination from local authorities.
Other potential candidates include Peter Casey, who finished second in the 2018 election, albeit far behind Michael D Higgins. Casey plans to approach other county councils who nominated him in 2018 in the coming weeks.
Sheridan expects the main parties to respect Article 12.2.2 of Bunreacht na hÉireann and allow their councillors to fulfill their constitutional obligation. He believes the choice of a younger candidate is more relevant and important than ever for the Presidential Election.
Housing will be a central plank of Sheridan's presidential platform. He attended the Tullamore Show in Co Offaly after announcing his candidacy, highlighting his commitment to engaging with the public on this issue.
However, there have been suggestions that some political parties may try to block candidates seeking local authority nominations, and Sheridan expects this to happen. He has stepped down as CEO of Nutriband to pursue a presidential nomination.
A press conference has been scheduled for Thursday in Dublin for Sheridan, where he is expected to elaborate on his plans and vision for Ireland.
- Gareth Sheridan, an entrepreneur and the founder of a pharmaceutical company, has ventured into politics by announcing his bid for the Irish presidency, focusing on a positive vision for the country's future.
- Sheridan's nomination process consists of securing support from either 20 Oireachtas members or four local councils, including some from Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil parties.
- A key aspect of Sheridan's presidency campaign will center around addressing housing issues, which he intends to engage with the public on extensively.
- In anticipation of potential obstacles involving politics and policy, Sheridan has stepped down as CEO of his company to focus solely on securing a nomination and implementing his plans for Ireland.
