2004 Irish presidential election

none November 2021 November 2021 2004 Irish presidential election Ireland presidential no 1997 Irish presidential election 1997 2011 Irish presidential election 2011 22 October 2004(Unopposed) Mary McAleese.jpg 120 120 160 0 0 Mary McAleese Independent politician (Ireland) President Mary McAleese Independent politician (Ireland) Mary McAleese Independent politician (Ireland) The 2004 Irish presidential election was the twelfth presidential election held in Ireland. The poll was scheduled for Friday 22 October 2004. Nominations closed at noon on 1 October, and incumbent President Mary McAleese, who nominated herself under the provisions of the Constitution, was the only candidate nominated. Accordingly, she was re-elected for a second seven year term without the need for a poll. This was the third time a president was returned unopposed, following Seán T. O'Kelly in the 1952 election and Patrick Hillery in the 1983 election. McAleese was inaugurated for her second term on 11 November 2004. Background Under Article 12 of the Constitution of Ireland, a candidate for president could be nominated by:electronic Irish Statute Book (eISB) electronic Irish Statute Book (eISB) https://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/cons/en/html https://web.archive.org/web/20260616172810/https://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/cons/en/html 2026-06-16 2026-07-05 www.irishstatutebook.ie en at least twenty of the 226 serving members of the Houses of the Oireachtas; at least four of the 34 county or city councils; the candidate themselves, in the case of an incumbent or former president. The Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government made the order opening nominations on 13 September 2004. Nominations closed at noon on 1 October, with 22 October set as the date for a poll, if required.https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ministerial-order-presidential-election-1.1157437 Ministerial order: Presidential election 14 September 2004 15 July 2018 The Irish Times 27 November 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20201127210824/https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ministerial-order-presidential-election-1.1157437 live Potential nominees Mary McAleese Incumbent President Mary McAleese nominated herself for a second term on 24 September.https://www.irishtimes.com/news/president-nominates-herself-as-candidate-1.1159087 President nominates herself as candidate Joe Humphreys 25 September 2004 4 September 2018 The Irish Times 27 November 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20201127203547/https://www.irishtimes.com/news/president-nominates-herself-as-candidate-1.1159087 live She received support from the governing parties Fianna Fáil and the Progressive Democrats, which had also backed her in the 1997 presidential election. Opposition parties including Fine Gael and Sinn Féin also supported her candidacy. Dana Rosemary Scallon Dana Rosemary Scallon had previously contested the 1997 presidential election and served as an MEP from 1999 until her defeat in the 2004 European Parliament election. In 2004, she again sought a nomination for the presidency through local authorities, but received support only from Galway City Council.https://www.irishtimes.com/news/seven-councils-reject-dana-s-presidency-bid-1.991120 Seven councils reject Dana's presidency bid 27 September 2004 4 September 2018 The Irish Times 5 September 2018 https://web.archive.org/web/20180905022919/https://www.irishtimes.com/news/seven-councils-reject-dana-s-presidency-bid-1.991120 livehttps://www.irishtimes.com/news/dana-s-nomination-1.1159393 Dana's nomination 28 October 2004 4 September 2018 The Irish Times 29 November 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20201129051801/https://www.irishtimes.com/news/dana-s-nomination-1.1159393 live After failing to secure enough council nominations, she wrote to members of the Oireachtas seeking support for her candidacy.https://www.irishtimes.com/news/dana-urges-tds-and-senators-to-back-her-campaign-1.1159547 Dana urges TDs and senators to back her campaign 29 September 2004 4 September 2018 The Irish Times 29 November 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20201129055129/https://www.irishtimes.com/news/dana-urges-tds-and-senators-to-back-her-campaign-1.1159547 live Independent TD Jerry Cowley briefly supported Scallon's campaign before withdrawing his support. On the day nominations closed, Scallon questioned the President of the High Court about the nomination rules.https://www.irishtimes.com/news/president-insists-she-has-electoral-mandate-1.1160050 President insists she has electoral mandate Mark Hennessy 2 October 2004 4 September 2018 The Irish Times 29 November 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20201129051233/https://www.irishtimes.com/news/president-insists-she-has-electoral-mandate-1.1160050 live Separately, a High Court challenge by a member of the public seeking to extend the nomination deadline to allow Scallon to be nominated was unsuccessful.https://www.irishtimes.com/news/cork-plumber-fails-to-delay-presidential-nomination-deadline-1.1160080 Cork plumber fails to delay presidential nomination deadline 2 October 2004 4 September 2018 The Irish Times 4 September 2018 https://web.archive.org/web/20180904225826/https://www.irishtimes.com/news/cork-plumber-fails-to-delay-presidential-nomination-deadline-1.1160080 live Labour Party In early 2003, the Labour Party said it intended to run a candidate in the presidential election, even if President Mary McAleese sought a second term. Former Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht Michael D. Higgins was among those considered as a possible nominee. However, as the 2004 European Parliament election and the 2004 local elections approached, party leader Pat Rabbitte suggested that Labour's focus had shifted toward those campaigns instead. On 15 September 2004, Labour's parliamentary party recommended against running a candidate.https://www.rte.ie/news/2004/0915/54413-president/ Labour TDs & Senators against presidential run Raidió Teilifís Éireann 15 September 2004 15 July 2018 16 July 2018 https://web.archive.org/web/20180716025035/https://www.rte.ie/news/2004/0915/54413-president/ live Two days later, the party's National Executive voted by 13 votes to 12 not to contest the election.https://www.irishtimes.com/news/labour-s-national-executive-how-the-members-voted-1.1157992 Labour's national executive: how the members voted 17 September 2004 4 September 2018 The Irish Times 23 September 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210923215815/https://www.irishtimes.com/news/labour-s-national-executive-how-the-members-voted-1.1157992 live Green Party Green Party TD Eamon Ryan stated that he was interested in seeking a nomination to run. However, practical difficulties included a lack of support from non-Green Party parliamentarians (14 would have been needed in addition to the six Green Party TDs), Mary McAleese's personal popularity, and funding issues. Despite being endorsed by the party leadership, Ryan subsequently withdrew his name at a meeting of the Green Party National Council. The party ultimately did not run a candidate.http://www.rte.ie/news/2004/0918/president.html Ryan withdraws name as Presidential candidate Raidió Teilifís Éireann 18 September 2004 8 September 2006 22 February 2007 https://web.archive.org/web/20070222025241/http://www.rte.ie/news/2004/0918/president.html live Results The only candidate nominated was Mary McAleese and she was declared elected at the close of nominations on 1 October.https://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/ireland/mary-mcaleese-appointed-to-second-term-as-president-169064.html Mary McAleese appointed to second term as President 1 October 2004 15 July 2018 Irish Examiner 15 July 2018 https://web.archive.org/web/20180715235944/https://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/ireland/mary-mcaleese-appointed-to-second-term-as-president-169064.html live 2004 Irish presidential electionhttp://www.housing.gov.ie/sites/default/files/migrated-files/en/Publications/LocalGovernment/Voting/FileDownLoad%2C661%2Cen.pdf Presidential Elections 1938–2011 Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government 15 July 2018 37 20 December 2017 https://web.archive.org/web/20171220201718/http://www.housing.gov.ie/sites/default/files/migrated-files/en/Publications/LocalGovernment/Voting/FileDownLoad,661,en.pdf live Mary McAleese Independent politician (Ireland) Self-nominated References collapsed Presidential Presidential Category:Michael D. Higgins Category:Presidential elections in Ireland Category:Uncontested elections Category:October 2004 in Europe