Reaction: A major review of the rules governing presidential elections and the length of the term of office should now be held, Green Party TD Mr Éamon Ryan has declared. Mark Hennessy reports.
The Dublin South TD, who unsuccessfully sought to persuade the Greens to run a candidate, expressed disappointment that no election will now be held.
"I am disappointed. I think it would have been good for the country. I think it would have provided a unique opportunity to ask questions about where Ireland is going, about what kind of country we have and about where we want to be in the wider world," he said.
Urging a review by the Oireachtas Constitutional Review Group, Mr Ryan said there are particular difficulties when a President decides to nominate herself or himself for a second term.
"That is where the difficulty is. There will be no difficulty next time. I am sure that there will be a whole heap of people looking to run," he said.
He said he believed the President was equally disappointed that there was no election.
