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THE VOLUNTEER INFORMATION group TellUsWhy.ie has asked each of the Presidential candidates a question for each day of this week to discern their priorities for the office.
TheJournal.ie is hosting the question – and answers – each day.
Question 5: “What has been Ireland’s greatest contribution to the world”
David Norris:
Our culture. This has not only been responsible for our amazing achievements in art and literature, but has nourished our energy, innovation and sense of adventure. As President I will champion Ireland and our successes and highlight our proud track record in all fields of endeavour, from culture, business, science to the arts.
Gay Mitchell:
Perhaps the greatest contribution was ourselves – our emigrants travelled worldwide, and have been crucial in the development of the United States, Britain, Europe and beyond. Our Missionaries and NGOs have been crucial in African affairs in recent decades. It used to be said in the 19th century that the Irish built the British Empire, while some call the impact of the diaspora as the Irish Empire. So that has been our greatest contribution – ourselves.
Martin McGuinness:
Ireland’s biggest contribution to the world has been her people. Over many years Ireland has made an enormous contribution to the world in education, academia, the world of literature with writers like Heaney, Joyce and Shaw. With the massive emigration from Ireland over many centuries we have had a major impact on many countries – Britain, the US, Australia – in political and business life, in the building of the physical infrastructure of these countries. The positive contribution that we have made also provides huge opportunities as we work to rebuild the economy. There is huge goodwill towards Ireland and there are many millions among the Irish diaspora who want to offer their help now.
Mary Davis:
Despite its geographical size, there is no doubt that Ireland has left an indelible cultural mark on the international stage. Our contribution to arts, culture and literature is second to none and has led to our capital city earning recognition as a UNESCO City of Literature. However, I think our greatest contribution as been our people. Irish people are regarded the world over for their convivial and welcoming nature. The fundamental traits that have made us so successful still exist; our talent, work ethic, resilience and innate belief.
Our greatest export has always been our people. Our innovation and skills of creativity are respected the world over. Sadly, in recent years that wonderful talent and expertise has been forced to flood to other countries to seek employment and security. That is a gross betrayal of trust. We must ensure that the Irish diaspora feels connected to Ireland and that everything is being done to create a stable, secure and sustainable state for them to return to.
Michael D. Higgins:
Thomas Davis famously said that “This country of ours is no sand-bank thrown up by some caprice of earth. It is an ancient land, honoured in the archives of civilization, traceable into antiquity by its piety, its valour, and its sufferings. Every great European race has sent its stream to the river of the Irish mind”.
I believe this quote from Davis aptly, and powerfully, explains Ireland’s contribution to European civilisation as indeed to the United States and, to varying extents, to all parts of the globe. We should be extremely proud of the contribution that our culture, our people, our ideas, our scientific research and our leadership in the areas of humanitarian work and peace-building have made to the world and determined to maintain and build on every strand of that contribution in the years ahead.
Seán Gallagher:
Ireland is a great country and we are a proud people. The energy and passion of our people is our greatest contribution to the world While our reputation has suffered internationally of late, it is not permanently damaged. I believe we must remember what we have achieved, what we have contributed and focus on what we can and will achieve.
The resilience of and support network of our international community is legendary while our energy and entrepreneurial spirit is second to none. We have a rich knowledge economy that has ensured our unique reputation in the Arts and Literature continues to be a catalyst for various entrepreneurial and social initiatives, reaching all around the world. What we need now is a safe pair of hands to hold and protect these contributions and who will work every minute of every day to continue to promote the best of Ireland.
Dana Rosemary Scallon: Failed to return an answer to the question.
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This seems like an unfairly negative slant on her performance.
I didn’t think Guam was part of the Virgin Islands!
Let’s just hope that this socialist/elitist couple is done in 1 term. No you can’t.
Ron Paul 2012
Right, let’s hope for a President that campaigns on literally not doing anything as President. Let’s hope for an isolationist President that abandons all overseas allies that rely on the US/NATO for their national defence, including us (just like pre-WWII USA, which we all know turned out just swimmingly for the world). Let’s hope for a President who wants to turn the USA into a confederation of independent states where, much like Europe, a coherent voice is nearly impossible to find in times of crisis.
Last but certainly not least, let’s hope for a President that believes the Earth is 6,000 years old, and the universe was created in 7 days.
As pleasant as it is to listen to a good debater and apparent voice of reason among the so-called Republican “candidates”, he would make an awful, awful President.
The “socialist/elitist” couple. You really need to look up the definitions of both of those words.
@Muc so you’re hoping for a President who attacks Iran on a spurious WMD charge .and as a result oil will hit $250 – £300 a barrel and the shitty economy we have will be completely flushed . Thats provided China don’t mind their economy being fucked by the US and go to war (and if you think that won’t happen you need to read a few PLA general’s speeches )
@Jeff
So the solution to all this is to completely abandon all foreign operations of the US armed forces and let Russia and China extend their circles of influence in the ensuing vacuum? As well as leaving defenseless allies such as ourselves, Japan, South Korea, Iraq, Libya, Egypt and a rake of others high and dry?
Not justifying the stupidity of Bush’s foreign policy but let’s not throw the baby out with the bathwater here. Also, a rebuttal of the rest of the reasons why Ron Paul would be a shit President would be nice.
@Muc Beag. Iraq an ally? Oh yeah, I forgot the US stomped them into alliance but this is a good thing according to you.
The “security” that you seem to think is so important seems to me to be the biggest threat to global security at present not Russia and not China.
Not only is it completely insane to think that in this supposed modern day and age where we can clone living species and perform medical miracles previously thought not to be possible that countries are still going to war and butchering poorer nations because of their resources but an ordinary citizen supporting these jingoistic policies is beyond comprehension.
In times of crisis their so called “coherent voice” didn’t do really do much for the people of New Orleans after Katrina did it?
It is a special type of lunatic that supports the past and current insane aggressive US foreign policy over a more peaceful one which is essentially what Ron Paul is about. My only fear is that the extremist nut bags like yourself will know exactly what to do if he ever gets into power.
Less of the name calling there. I’m not a “nutbag”, “lunatic” or whatever else and I certainly don’t support “insane aggressive US foreign policy” – which you have to admit has been toned down since Obama came in (withdrawal from Iraq, limited involvement in Libya and Arab Spring, economic rather than military responses to Iranian nuclear ambitions etc). What I am opposed to is complete termination of current overseas operations, particularly the likes of South Korea.
Going to add to your point about Katrina/New Orleans – Lehman Bros. When they called up the White House asking for a bailout, “Dubya” wouldn’t even take the call. In the end it cost us ten times what a bailout there and then would’ve cost. That bad decision was not the fault of the US’s federalist structure, as it was possible to call the White House with such a request, but the failure of former President Bush and his 8 years of dreadful leadership.
Do you really think there would’ve been a more swift response to Katrina if the US were a loose confederation of independent states, as Ron Paul would envisage? Do you think the military could be mobilised faster if the problem lay solely with the state of Louisiana, again as Ron Paul would envisage? Do you think human rights would be improved in America if all the power lie with the states (think about it, with such direct democracy they could vote in racist laws without any consequences from federal government). Do you think the dollar would be better off, or even exist, without the Federal Reserve?
As much as I like him, his Presidency would be a disaster for the USA and the world.
Seems like she has had to put up with a lot of nonsense since her husband became president.
lol, “isolationist”? WTF does that have to do with Ron Paul? And how the f*ck is U.S. taxpayer responsible for European security? Europe has to grow some balls and pay for its own security or shut the f*ck up and take it in the a**. And yes, the retard will be a 1 term president, no doubt.
Ron Paul wants to end all overseas operations of the US military, so in foreign policy terms he would be considered an “isolationist”. As in he wants the US to be isolated from world geopolitics.
Reality is they are the protectors of a lot of countries that would be too small to defend themselves, yet provide the US with military bases in exchange for defense (less-so Europe, more-so South Korea, Japan, Taiwan etc).
Also, the military-industrial complex created by these overseas operations does generate stimulus for the US economy. Indeed, a form of Keynesian “pump-priming”.
Obama’s currently favourite to retain his position at the White House, by the by.
Seems like a bit of a cow in fairness but anybody in a position like that is going to have a nastier side to them
have your say