McAleese waved in for second term

MARY McALEESE was yesterday elected unopposed for a second term as President following the failure of Dana Rosemary Scallon to secure backing for her nomination.

At the end of a week that saw a last-gasp effort by Ms Scallon to secure a nomination - raising grave questions about the fairness of the constitutional rules governing elections - the returning officer announced just after midday that President McAleese was the only candidate for Áras an Uachtaráin.

In her acceptance speech, President McAleese seemed to tacitly acknowledge the shortcomings of the system, saying she had been prepared for, and would have welcomed, an election.

“I was preparing for an election and the imminent launch of an election campaign. But I am very grateful to all those whose faith and trust in me resulted in me being elected unopposed,” she said.

Her election resulted in widespread tributes from across the political divide. Taoiseach Bertie Ahern said that over the past seven years “she had been an exemplary President and our country has greatly benefited from her first term in office”.

Many focused on her response to the 9-11 atrocity, as well as the important behind-the-scenes work she and her husband Martin McAleese have done in Northern Ireland, especially in forging contacts with loyalist communities.

PD TD Liz O’Donnell described her as a “parallel player in the peace process”.

Yesterday, Mrs McAleese described her role as that of “nurturer” and bridge-builder in society. Asked specifically about the previous day’s visit by Ian Paisley and a DUP delegation to Dublin, she made a candid admission.

“To tell you the truth, I cried yesterday when I saw him in Dublin. I cried with sheer joy. I know it wasn’t the end of any road, it was probably the beginning of a new road. I just thought it was wonderful to have lived this long and to have seen Ian Paisley in Dublin talking politics with our Government, using the words partnership, wanting to be a good neighbour.

“I have waited 30 years, or longer, to hear him use those words. I have to say that I thought yesterday was one of the loveliest, quietest days in politics, from which I take great heart,” she said.

Dana also arrived to hand in her nomination at the Custom House yesterday, but it was rejected because she had failed to secure the backing of either four local authorities or 20 Oireachtas members.

Her backers had spent two days trying to win the support of TDs and senators, but only four - Senators Shane Ross and David Norris, and TDs Michael Ring and Finian McGrath - pledged their support.

Dana said the high bar set for securing nominations was detrimental to democracy.