Gallagher said he was concerned at the "extravagance attached to the office", and that "We’ve heard stories of €3,000 a night hotels, the issue for us as taxpayers, we’re not in a position to see these figures". On 12 October 2018, Gallagher called for a public audit of all presidential expenses, which the State rejected as already covered under existing transparency guidelines. On 12 October 2018, Gallagher praised Higgins calling him an "inspiring politician", that the people of Ireland were tired of negative politics, and that Gallagher wanted to "succeed Michael D, not replace". On 10 October 2018, the Irish Times when reviewing the candidates campaign videos, described Gallagher's video as an "electrifying exercise in grand patriotic baloney", and that it was "Fashioned lovingly from the finest garbage". On 15 October 2018, The Irish Times reported Gallagher wrote to Higgins in the Áras regarding his inability to attend all televised debates calling Higgins "insulting to the people of Ireland and shows contempt for the integrity of our electoral process". The final major opinion poll before the election placed Gallagher second, but his polling had fallen to 11%, with Higgins at 69%. On 26 October 2017, Gallagher received 6.41% of the first preference vote, which ranked him in third place behind Peter Casey with 23.25%, and Michael D. Higgins with 55.81%. Personal life Gallagher married Irene McCausland in 1997, while he was working with the Louth Country Enterprise Board, and they divorced and annulled in 1999. In 2010, he married Patricia "Trish" O'Connor, a cosmetic company representative, from Kanturk, Co Cork. They used to live in Blackrock, County Louth, but now live in Delgany, County Wicklow, and have two children. Gallagher's profile in the Board report of the InterTradeIreland 2007 accounts, noted that Gallagher was a 1st dan black-belt in both Judo and Karate. Bibliography Notes References External links 1962 births Living people Fianna Fáil politicians Reality show winners Candidates for President of Ireland Irish television personalities Participants in Irish reality television series People educated at St Patrick's College, Cavan Alumni of St Patrick's College, Maynooth Alumni of Ulster University People from County Cavan Irish businesspeople Alumni of Dundalk Institute of Technology