STEPHEN COLLINS and MARY MINIHAN
MICHAEL D HIGGINS promised last night to be ?a president for all the people? after the first count in the presidential election gave him an unassailable lead.
Arriving at Dublin Castle shortly before 9pm just before the announcement of the first count, Mr Higgins expressed his delight at the result.
?I?m very happy. I?m happy with the vote and the support. I?m very glad that it is so decisive, that the transfers also indicate that it will enable me to be a president for all of the people.
?I pay tribute to the other candidates for their very long, hard campaign. And they had many good ideas which I will incorporate.?
Mr Higgins said he had enjoyed the long campaign and he thanked the media ?for their kindness and courtesy?.
A bonus for Labour was that the party?s candidate, Patrick Nulty, was on course for a comfortable win in the Dublin West byelection, despite a recount to establish who would come in second place.
The result of the first count in the presidential election was Mr Higgins 39.6 per cent; Se?n Gallagher 28.5 per cent; Martin McGuinness 13.7 per cent; Gay Mitchell 6.4 per cent; David Norris 6.2 per cent; Dana Rosemary Scallon 2.9 per cent; and Mary Davis 2.8 per cent.
Ms Davis and Ms Scallon were eliminated after the first count and their second preferences were distributed among the other candidates.
The official turnout was 56.11 per cent, almost 10 points higher than in the last presidential election in 1997.
Turnout was highest in Dublin North Central (64.01 per cent) and Dublin South (61.93 per cent). It was lowest in Donegal South-West (48.42 per cent) and Donegal North-East (48.79 per cent).
Mr Higgins was the leading candidate in 35 constituencies; Mr Gallagher was ahead in seven and Sinn F?in?s Martin McGuinness in one.
Mr Gallagher, who had a strong lead in the opinion polls before last Monday?s television debate, contacted Mr Higgins yesterday afternoon to congratulate him.
A Red C poll conducted on the day of the election for RT? showed a significant shift in support from Mr Gallagher to Mr Higgins after the television debate.
All of the other candidates also congratulated Mr Higgins on his victory.
?Mr Higgins will make an excellent president and his wife, Sabina, will be an excellent first lady. My loyal support is with them and I wish them every blessing for the years ahead,? said Fine Gael candidate Gay Mitchell whose poor performance was one of the talking points of the election.
Party director of elections Charlie Flanagan said the Irish people clearly had a particular view of the presidency and the type of person they wished to see fill the role. ?The party will take this on board and reflect upon it,? he said
T?naiste and Labour Party leader Eamon Gilmore said his party?s candidate had run a very ?very positive campaign? to which the people had responded.
Mr Gilmore said RT??s Frontline?programme on Monday night had a huge bearing on the outcome. However, he also said Mr Higgins had not engaged in any name-calling and ran a campaign which was based on ideas. ?We had the honour as a party to nominate what we consider to be the best candidate; we?re delighted that the electorate have agreed with us on that,? said Mr Gilmore.
Fianna F?il leader Miche?l Martin also congratulated Mr Higgins, saying it is an ?exceptionally proud day? for him, Sabina and their family. ?I have known Michael D Higgins for many years and he will make an excellent president and ambassador for Ireland,? he said.
The votes in the referendums on judges? pay and more powers for the D?il and Seanad will be counted today.
Source: http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/frontpage/2011/1029/1224306735061.html
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