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SO FAR, ALMOST the entire debate regarding the upcoming presidential election has revolved around personality. This is perhaps understandable. Independent candidates can only gain a place on the ballot paper by convincing local authorities or members of the Oireachtas to nominate them, whilst party political candidates must take part in internal contests for a nomination.
These processes inevitably direct focus onto the individual seeking nomination rather than the role of the presidency itself. In addition, the withdrawal from the race by David Norris – and the lead up to this decision – has completely dominated the media in all forms. The combination of all of these factors has resulted in plenty of focus on the candidates but far less focus on what they would do if honoured with the position of President.
This should change. The President plays an important role in Irish life. Choosing a person for this office is an important decision, especially today.
Ireland’s next president will be head of a changed State. One which, until recently, naively thought that it was at the zenith of its powers. One which, for the foreseeable future, will have to manage the consequences of past decisions as best it can. One which must now go through a period of ‘warts and all’ self-assessment so that economic recovery is coupled with social renewal.
In short, the next president will hold office at a time when we all are coping with the catastrophic mistakes of our recent past whilst rebuilding our fractured economy and society anew. This is a mammoth task. The presidential debate should now focus on the individual views of each of the candidates concerning the role of the President and the part they can play in this work in the years ahead.
Of course, the next president – like all Irish heads of state – will operate within a defined constitutional mandate. The President’s primary role will be, as always, to uphold the Constitution and all work and engagements that he or she undertakes will be in close agreement with the government.
The powers of the President may be limited but this should not mean that there should be no discussion at all on what a president can achieve. Despite the constitutional parameters of the office, we should recognise that the office of the president can have a real impact in a range of ways, both in national and international work on our behalf.
So, how would candidates for the presidency use the role to represent Ireland on the international stage? How would they help to encourage communities that have been hit hard by the recession to regroup and rebuild? And, how would they uphold principles of equality and fairness – set out in our Constitution – and amplify these qualities in all that they do?
I believe a greater focus on these issues is now warranted, and would benefit the ongoing campaign.
For my part, I am firmly of the view that the voice of the President, as an advocate for Ireland as a destination for inward investment, should be used. I would like to lead an enhanced number of international trade missions to bring a message to our current and future trading partners that Ireland is rebuilding and renewing itself. I would also like to use the Presidency to be an advocate for global justice as, for me, Irish Aid is one of the strongest manifestations of what it means to be Irish on the world stage.
At home, I would like to strongly encourage community development. This is something that I have been involved in for all my working life, from the start of my time working with children and adults with a disability. I know that change does not happen overnight, but is built – person by person – over time.
This is the kind of debate that I would like to engage in and that I think the voters would benefit from. There is a job of work to do in this country in the years ahead. The President – as someone who seeks to encapsulate and articulate the spirit of our nation – can and must play an especially important role in this work in the years ahead.
Mary Davis is an Independent candidate for the presidency.
Ireland should seek redress from the Nato countries for this amount. We are not causing this migration, just as we weren’t party to the bombing and destruction of Libya or Syria. The US has said that this war is going to be a very long one so the refugees are going to keep coming and those here are not going home soon, if ever.
Neutral Ireland should be shouting out loud for peace talks to start and not nodding agreement to the arms shipments pouring into Ukraine.
Is the President’s wife, Sabina Higgins, the only one in Ireland with a titter of wit or a shread of humanity?
@Bramley Hawthorne: so nothing to do with Russia?
Ukraine could never have joined Nato and everyone knows that. Nato’s charter does not allow a country to join that has conflict on its border and Ukraine had multiple even before the invasion.
Ukraine biggest mistake was to hand back all those nukes and to trust that Russia would abide to any agreement.
Should have kept a few and no one would bother them then.
@Bramley Hawthorne: or we should just pay it forward.
Half the world claims Irish heritage because so many found a place to begin a new life back in the 1800’s.
That’s not to saying they had it easy in the 1800’s. However, the good will of many foreign countries and their people should be remembered and used as rationale to treat these Ukrainian people with respect and understanding for their situation even if it costs us a few bob.
@Bramley Hawthorne: Ridiculous comment. Ireland offered to house these refugees.
@Jim Buckley Barrett: You are very good at trying to rewrite history. Russia attached Ukraine.
@Bramley Hawthorne: NATO did not start this war. Russia did. A war you told us was never going to happen because Russia would never invade Ukraineand it was all western lies.
@Bramley Hawthorne:
NATO did not create or start this war. Russia, and Russia alone is responsible.
@Paolo Fandango: Sadly, not all can afford it. Charity and activism can be great but if an old person can’t pay the heating bill that arrives or if a family can’t afford to buy a home because cost of living has eat into their salary/salaries, it’s not fair to force it upon them.
Hope our landlord politicians read this article to avoid any oversights in claiming the €400.
@Tom Keane: pretty sure they aren’t bother with the 400, it’s the multi million euro contract to host them in hotels that would get them out of bed in the morning
@Tom Keane: try it sometime
Yet our next generation of students suffer while trying to secure accommodation for the college term
@Paul Dolan: that bias comparison is only valid if those taking in refugees would ordinarily have taken in students and are not talking students now. Unlikely.
@Paul Clancy: not blaming the kindness of people but instead blaming our government
@Paul Dolan: have they not moved out of student accommodation already?
@Paul Clancy: I rang someone in work the other day because a letter we sent them had been returned undelivered to us. He said he was no longer at the address because the landlord evicted them so he could put in Ukrainian refugees.
@Paul Dolan: Suffering students?
we have 6 in our holiday home , 400 does not cover it.
@ChronicAnxiety: I wouldn’t do it for 400 the payment to Irish households to take people in should be more giving the rise in everything
@ChronicAnxiety: there was no mention of any payments at the start and you did it willingly
I know someone wanting to give out two rooms in their own home to help out. Tried for about 5 months chasing everyone with calls and dropping in. Got the run around from everyone including red Cross and local council. Eventually contacted local td few times and they called back to say unfortunately only looking for a 5 bedroom house
Isn’t everyone in the country?!!?!
Know someone else waiting for few months and no news.
Why can’t they offer something for students too. They also need assistance
@Trevor W: They do…. You can rent a room to a student and earn up to 14.5k tax free. I think that’s a good deal for both the student and the home owner.
Fair dues to those who accommodate Ukrainians in their own homes and I don’t think they did it for the money … 400 euros is great value for the taxpayer too compared to what’s paid out to hoteliers etc. Can’t understand why they can’t get their act together and place more in homes…..lots of people have pledged and for some reason they’re not being followed up. The Red Cross got millions on the Late Late show and seem to have made a complete horliks of the whole pledging and hosting situation.
As a lot of Closed Commercial Premises have now opened up to accommodate the Refugees, how much does these establishments such as Hotels, Guest Houses and B&Bs receive per person staying, and is Food and Laundry charged as an extra per person staying or is it included in the Base Allowance.
@Owen G Mc Ginley: Ahh Owen. What are you asking that sensible question for? You trying to understand how the books are balanced on this? Back in your box pal. Nothing for you to see here. Just a whole class of hotel and accommodation owners creaming it off the back of the “taxpayer”. All borrowed money as well, in Ireland’s name. Keep quiet though, all these well heeled hoteliers and property owners are friends of TDs and hold sway and influence. These are the people benefiting from immigration, crying about how we need to bring in people from abroad who will work for minimum wage in their businesses whilst availing of other working people’s tax funded subsidies such as HAP to just put a roof over their heads. You keep working away now – they’ll just take 52% of your earnings, tax you anytime you drive, park, eat, drink, heat your home, buy anything. There’s a good little worker now – you’redoing God’s work! We’re all doing our bit now. Some people just get money while others have it taken away. Sure what do you need money for – you wouldn’t know what to do with it – you’d never appreciate the finer things in life!
400 Euro per month wouldn’t cover the cost of the electricity bill at the rate its going up plus gas as well
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