Electing a president - We need far more than symbolism

IN a little more than six months we will elect the ninth President of Ireland.

This will be an opportunity to give expression to the ideals we would like to see celebrated in a way that is not always easy in a Dáil election.

Mary Robinson, elected in 1990, had an impact far beyond anything she might have achieved in nearly any other elected role. She reached out to groups who felt forgotten in a society beginning to emerge from decades of economic deprivation. By offering the oxygen of publicity to so many causes, Ms Robinson built a confidence and determination amongst advocacy groups that ultimately led to change, and changed expectations too, in our country.

By the example and encouragement she purposefully offered, she empowered many lives.

Her successor President Mary McAleese was elected in 1997 and she continued much of what Ms Robinson had begun and placed special emphasis, along with her husband Dr Martin McAleese, on building relationships between all communities on this island and in these islands. The universal condemnation of the recent murder of PSNI Constable Ronan Kerr can be seen as just one manifestation of the great success of that project. Her role in it should not be underestimated.

Though political party treasurers must dread the prospect of a presidential election so very soon after a general election it seems that there will be a fine and varied selection of hats in the ring.

This weekend Fine Gael MEP Mairead McGuinness said she will seek a nomination and her EU colleague Seán Kelly has expressed an interest too. Former taoiseach John Bruton has yet to declare though he is not expected to go forward. Michael D Higgins is the favourite to carry Labour’s hopes though Fergus Finlay has said he will try to win their nomination.

Fianna Fáil are, at the moment at least, in a very different position. As with Fine Gael their most prominent hopeful is an MEP — Brian Crowley — though it is suggested that Micheál Martin does not want him to stand but rather use his popularity to secure a Dáil seat when the opportunity arises. Though the party has a great number of former ministers and deputies to choose from the October election may come too soon for any Fianna Fáil candidate brave enough to try and follow the party’s last candidate, Ms McAleese.

There are powerful independents too — Senator David Norris and possible Mary Davis and there seems to be a growing momentum to get Pat Cox to run. He could well be the dark horse, especially as he is almost uniquely positioned to help rebuild important but damaged relationships right across Europe.

The office has always been considered a great honour but, once upon a time, more for services rendered rather than for what might be yet achieved. It was more to do with symbolism than expectation but we’ve had enough empty symbolism. Let our next president, whomever they may be, be far more than a nodding, smiling figurehead. Let them lead by example and when they take the salute at the 2016 celebrations let us hope they have the courage, vision and determination of the men whose achievements we will all remember.