Independent presidential candidate Seán Gallagher has proposed an “expo” event in 2016 to showcase “all that is good about Ireland”.
Speaking at a presidential forum hosted by Sigmar Recruitment in association with The Irish Times in Dublin this morning, Mr Gallagher said the country would be looking back "with sensitivity" during the historic anniversary year.
“We should also look forward. An expo would celebrate all that is good about Ireland and our products and services,” he said.
Sinn Féin candidate Martin McGuinness said he would focus on employment if elected president. “Each president reinvents the office. I would like to be the jobs president,” he said.
Mr McGuinness said the development of an all-island economy was essential and would reap rewards “for the 32 counties”. He also said he would like to see “rates and utility costs” brought down to make Ireland more competitive.
Labour Party candidate Michael D Higgins said if elected president he would make sure the Council of State was “representative in an inclusive sense”. The president can convene the Council of State to consider legislation.
Mr Higgins said Ireland needed “better economics” and a move away from “forecasting that is somewhat dubious”. Defending education, he said “good, decent, careful, scholarship” was something to be treasured.
Fine Gael candidate Gay Mitchell said he was “sick and tired” of people taking swipes at the European Union. He said Ireland did not become truly sovereign until it joined the EU.
“These are the people without whom we wouldn’t survive,” Mr Mitchell said. He said an enterprising spirit had to be encouraged. “We are not on our knees . . . we have to stop buying failure,” he added.
Independent candidate Mary Davis said she would be a “practical president”. She said the president could open doors, “that perhaps the Ministers of the Government are not in a position to do”.
Ms Davis said there was tremendous energy in communities throughout Ireland, which needed to be “harnessed, nourished and encouraged”.
Independent candidate Dana Rosemary Scallon said maintaining Ireland’s rate of corporation tax was vital. “If that is endangered then our position as a stepping stone to a really magnificent market is endangered,” she said.
Ms Scallon said foreign direct investment was important but transient, and indigenous business had to be fostered.
Independent candidate Senator David Norris did not attend the debate because of an overlapping commitment, his spokesman said.
