Our next president should be Euro-sceptic

RICHARD POWER (Letters, June 22) states that “the greatest problems facing this country are economic”. He then suggests that the best person to deal with this economic problem is Pat Cox.

Firstly, the post of president is ceremonial and well paid. The president has no political or economic function whatsoever. Secondly, the last person we want elected is a former leading Progressive Democrat. It was the poli cy of the PDs, who influenced Fianna Fáil, that brought us to this sorry state. Low taxation, which deprived the exchequer of funds to run the social side of the state, was the PDs’ war cry.

Regulation was anathema to their philosophy. The encouragement of private healthcare, at the expense of the public health service, was pursued with zest. Indeed the legacy of the PDs will be with us for a generation.

If we are going to elect a president, a post we can’t afford anyway, at least pick someone who can put Irish interests top of their speaking agenda. The best person in my opinion would be a Euro-sceptic. For far too long we have tipped the forelock to the EU. Let’s stand up for ourselves for once.

The new president can start by writing speeches demanding that our fishing waters are returned to the nation.

Michael O’Donnell

Old Youghal Road

Cork