Wacky presidential campaign has gone to the dogs
With the incumbent President Michael D Higgins so far ahead in the race, it was only a matter of time before things became somewhat farcical, writes
Peter Casey, the true wildcard of the campaign, has published a wacky online video attacking Michael D’s choice of dog-grooming services.
The ad, overdubbed by a man with an American accent, bemoans the fact the President does not have an Irish setter or some other kind of native breed.
The irony clearly was lost on some.
Complete with a country and western soundtrack, Casey’s ad would not be out of place in a US political campaign, but in an Irish context it is unusual.
Particularly what has caused many eyebrows to be raised is Casey’s claim that the President used taxpayers’ money to fund €10,000 worth of dog grooming services for the country’s most popular dogs, Bród and Sioda, two Bernese mountain dogs.
For the President’s part, he has said that all costs associated with the dogs are and have been met from his own pocket.
His campaign says Casey is simply making it up about the taxpayer being forced to pay for it. Casey’s campaign was asked to supply the basis upon which his claims were made but failed to respond to our queries.
Casey too has led the way in criticising the President’s use of the Government Learjet to travel to Belfast to give a lecture.
On this front, Casey has been joined by other candidates who have sought to get some traction by sticking it to President Higgins.
Seán Gallagher, the runner-up in chief since 2011, weighed in to the row saying it amounted to “extravagance” in the office of the Áras.
It is a waste of taxpayers’ money,” he said.
Sinn Féin’s Liadh Ní Riada made it known that she had written to Michael D about the use of the jet.
Ms Ní Riada said she sent the letter to the sitting President “in relation to a number of very serious questions” that were raised over the weekend.
“Among the issues which have been raised in the media were the use by the President of the Government’s aircraft at huge public expense to fly within the island of Ireland, to places like Belfast and Kerry,” she said.
Ms Ní Riada also references reports that claim that Mr Higgins has been “using the OPW to maintain the garden and grounds” of his private residence.
“These follow other unanswered questions in relation to the use of the €300,000 expense account,” she said.
Speaking in Drogheda, Co Louth, the President claimed that he had to travel to Belfast by private jet following advice from his office on security issues.
He said: “As far as I am concerned I am very happy with the official PSNI statement. I welcome it, I agree with it and I am happy to reciprocate to it by again expressing my thanks for their co-operation and courtesy.
Mr Higgins was asked for clarity over his previous comments that his staff were advised “that for security reasons I couldn’t be picked up at the Border” during last May’s trip.
“I have visited Northern Ireland many times in the last seven years and I take the advice from my office and my office judges these trips in terms of the considerations they take into account, logistics and security,” he said.
