Nationwide IRV poll with a NOTA option.
Why?
A nationwide poll because all citizens should be equal in an election. The value of one's vote for the Presidency shouldn't depend on where in the Union one happens to reside.
IRV because it allows the voter to express his true preferences without concern for wasting his vote; and encourages a greater number of candidates to stand giving the voter greater choice.
Greetings to Ireland!
Greetings warmly received!
I wanted to ask you if you could explain how the ballots are, voting counting (manual or machine) and is there some sort of fee or number of petition signatures candidates in Ireland need to get when they run for Pres? Thanks 
No problem.
Presidential elections here are by a nationwide IRV poll (though there isn't a NOTA option).
On the ballot paper the candiates are listed in alphabetical order, stating their address; occupation and party affiliation together with a photograph of the candidate.
Candidates are ordered in accordance with voter preference.
Voting is counted manually (though the current government has tried to introduce electronic voting machines, they are widely opposed. It's unclear whether efforts will be made again to bring them into play.) An initial count is made, if any candidate has grater than 50% of the vote they are deemed elected. If not, then the lowest placed candidate's 2nd preferences are distributed and so on until someone gains 50% + of the vote or there are no more votes to distribute.
The Constitution sets out the process for Presidential nomnations. Candidates may be nominated by 3 methods:
1) Sitting Presidents can nominate themselves (though Presidents are limited to 2 terms, which are of 7 years duration);
2) Receieving the nominations of 20 members of the either of the 2 Irish Houses of Parliament.
3) Receiving the nominations of 4 Council Councils.
My impression is that Irish Presidential elections are only occasionally contested and never competitive, partially because the President has few powers.
The President is indeed largely a figurehead position. There are some limited but useful powers, for example, the power of reference of Bills to the Supreme Court to determine their constitutionality. Primarily though the President has a similar role to that of the British monarch, i.e., sign bills into law, chief ambassador of the nation, etc.
Of the 12 occasions when the Presidency has been up for election or re-election, 6 have been uncontested, including most recently in 2004 when the sitting President, Mary McAleese, came to the end of her first term. (Polling suggested her approval rating at almost 90%, so opposing would have been a waste of time and money for what is largely an apolitical position.)
