Now let the people decide ...

I MUST commend Michael D Higgins for recommending that Dublin City Council Labour councillors do not block Senator David Norris from entering the Presidential race.

Mr. Higgins recognised that all contenders should be allowed enter and ultimately, it is up to the public to decide. I am, however, quite dismayed at both the press coverage of the Norris campaign and the views of a number of councils. The man should be viewed for what he can do as a representative for the country as opposed to his errors in judgement, and let us all be honest, everyone has lapses in judgement depending on situations that arise.

It is the common view that modern day politicians are expected to have squeaky clean reputations and the reality is that they are only human. No one can have a squeaky clean reputation and anyone who apparently does is just very good at hiding their misdemeanours. We have all seen that even the greatest leaders have had character flaws — Clinton and Kennedy had an eye for the ladies, Churchill was fond of his drink and I am sure if you went back a few thousand years, there were a few senators raising the character flaws of Julius Caesar in the Roman Senate. The point I raise is this — Michael D Higgins showed us that the citizens must decide, and although it is a role that many people question the validity of in this day and age, it is a role that is important as the Irish President is viewed as a figure head for greeting foreign dignitaries.