The age of Michael D Higgins is one of those issues that can't be openly used as a weapon in the battle for the Áras.
It would be political suicide for any of the other candidates to focus on the fact that if Michael D gets elected, he will be three years shy of 80 by the time he retires.
Sean Gallagher, who is 49 years old, has already taken an oblique potshot at Higgins by saying the office is not for retiring politicians and demands huge energy and drive. But he would not want to go any further than this, as he runs the risk of being accused of ageism.
However the issue is in the minds of the electorate.
People remember when the Áras was a retirement home. It is incredible to recall that Eamon De Valera was 90 years old when he retired as President of Ireland.When we voted in Mary Robinson, we voted for youth and change. And the appetite for this is still prevalent.
David Norris is 67, Martin McGuinness is 61, Dana is 60 and Mary Davis is 57. Michael D celebrated his 70th birthday in April and is the oldest in the field.
Is he too old to be our President?
Higgins has so much going for him: he has the stature of a statesman, he is a visionary, he has vast political experience and multiple accomplishments. The idea of having our own Vaclav Havel in the Áras is compelling, especially at a time when we know how culture is one of the things we do best in this country.
However, is he likely to have the same amount of energy in the later years of his (potential) Presidency?
Is he capable of giving it his all towards the end of the seven year term?
His health became headline news last year when he fractured his kneecap while visiting Trócaire projects in Colombia. This was simply an accident though; in general he is in good health.
An interview with him printed in the health section of The Irish Times last month revealed that he has been making a special effort with his diet in the past 18 months; he was trying to eat a more energy-giving diet with more fish and vegetables and less desserts. He had started going to yoga classes, which he said were fantastic.
I see his age as being the biggest weakness to his campaign.
The average age of African presidents is around 70.
Africa, with more corrupt governments than you can shake a stick at, is hardly a trend we want to follow. Robert Mugabe, Zimbabwe’s President since 1980 is now 87 years old and still clinging to power.
We need to look to our progressive friends in Scandinavia instead. They have notably young heads of state. Denmark got their first female prime minister last week; she is 44. The Swedish Prime Minister is 46 and the Finnish PM is just 39.
Having said all that, anyone who knows Michael D personally know that he is a powerhouse of energy and that he is in great shape for somebody his age.
But for people outside that circle, he needs to demonstrate to them how his age is not a disadvantage to be an Irish President in 2011.
