Ireland’s presidential hopeful and businessman Gavin Duffy has revealed he will highlight youth unemployment and will step away from his business if he is elected as the next president.

The Irish Dragons’ Den entrepreneur was making his first presentation, and first political speech, to councillors at Waterford City County Council on Tuesday.

Speaking for an hour and 20 minutes, the successful businessman made a number of pledges and commended current President Michael D Higgins for his role as Ireland’s President since 2011.

The father-of-four said that, if he is elected, he will highlight youth unemployment.

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Aras an Uachtarain, home of the Irish President in Phoenix Park, Dublin (Niall Carson/PA)

“Waterford is one of the blackspots as regards to youth unemployment in the country and we need to address that,” he said.

He was also asked about his involvement in blood sports and hunting organisations.

Mr Duffy said he has been up front about his role as former chairman of the Hunting Association of Ireland.

“About 10 years ago when there was a move to ban the Ward Union Hunt I stepped in,” he said.

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Irish President Michael D Higgins (Brian Lawless/PA)

“I didn’t hunt with them, I had no connection, I was not a member, but they are keepers of the original, indigenous red deer in Ireland and I was asking the minister at the time, what are we going to do with this heritage herd of Irish red deer.

“But because I took that stand, now this is something that happens when you join politics, you cross the line and the Twitter machine starts.”

Mr Duffy said that he stands over his attempts to preserve the indigenous red deer.

The former Dragons’ Den judge, who is seeking the backing of four local councils before he can enter his name on the ballot paper, praised current Mr Higgins for his “excellent facilitation” of the 1916 centenary celebrations two years ago.

“I have to put on record that I have no difficulty with Michael D Higgins in going forward again, what I do believe that if he is successful he can return to the Aras with a mandate,” he added.

The businessman, who compared the councillors to the Dragons while he was making the pitch, said that he would set up an international youth core that would allow young people to get involved in charitable work abroad.

He said that young people would have to raise funds in their local community to cover the costs which, Mr Duffy said, would extend young people’s understanding of the world.

He was also asked about his position on a united Ireland and giving people living in Northern Ireland the right to vote in the presidential election.

Mr Duffy said that he was unsure if a president has the power to campaign for a United Ireland.

He continued: “I am somebody who was brought up in a border county and I am very concerned of what might be happening to the border.

“There has been great progress and that could be lost.”

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Members of Waterford Co Council listen to Gavin Duffy (Niall Carson/PA)

He was also asked about his involvement with Nama developer Sean Fitzpatrick and he admitted he had a meeting with Mr Fitzpatrick a number of years ago.

He was asked whether he had provided consultancy or advice to Mr Fitzpatrick and he told the media that he received a phone call to meet with Mr Fitzpatrick.

“I got a phone call asking would I go and meet him, so I did,” he said.

“Anybody who is in the media spotlight I would be advising them to face up to them (the media) and talk to them as he was very big news at the time and he had no interest in that.

“Therefore I don’t know why he would be talking to someone like me and we never, ever met again.

“That was the first and last time I met Sean Fitzpatrick.”

The successful businessman also said he and his wife, Orlaith will be stepping away from their consultancy business if he is a successful candidate.

“This was a monumental decision, it was also a big decision for my wife of 25 years who is also my business partner,” he added.

“Orlaith also has to resign from the business which is one of the things about the presidency.

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Gavin Duffy hopes to be Ireland’s next president (Niall Carson/PA)

“To step away from that work has been a big decision and one that I respect her for.”

He also rejected suggestions he was like former businessman and US President Donald Trump.

“I can say as somebody who is seeking an nomination I am not an admirer of him (President Trump).

“I am even less of an admirer as a business person.

“I assure you I will be very different than Trump.”

He continued: “I find it difficult talking about myself and how wonderful I am and how great a president I would make, because my life has been talking about other people and seeing the potential in them and that’s what I want to do as your president.

“I want to connect with everyone across the country, and I want to communicate a better vision of ourselves in Ireland and abroad.”