Let candidates have some dignity

SOME weeks ago, I wrote to your paper outlining what I considered might be the appropriate qualities for an Irish president in the current climate of financial uncertainly.

One candidate emerged who could fulfil all the required criteria, but unfortunately the Fine Gael parliamentary party rejected him and we are left with a hotch-potch of well-meaning, but totally uninspiring, candidates.

The eventual winner will be elected on the basis of the person least disliked.

What is much more disturbing, however ,than the quality of the candidates is the low level of journalism associated with the campaign.

Surely, it was not Mary Davis’s fault that she was appointed to various boards, both governmental and private. And surely a person’s private income should be allowed remain private.

How many journalists splash their incomes, allowances and junket details across front pages?

What relevance does Dana’s dual citizenship have on the proceedings?

So David Norris wrote letters pleading clemency for a friend.

Are all those journalists who tried and hung him on the basis of those letters, so morally upright that they would not do the same on behalf of a family member or a friend should similar circumstances arise?

So Sean Gallagher was a member of FF’s national executive.

Many people are members of FF, and some achieve higher rank than others, but they are neither cabinet members nor backbenchers, and are not involved in national policy making.

One might as well castigate Michael D Higgins because he had the temerity to have been a member of FF over 50 years ago or Gay Mitchell because Declan Costello’s “Just Society” of 50 years ago which inspired him and his brother to join FG has not yet been achieved.

And speaking of Gay Mitchell, the antics of a Sunday tabloid linking him to Dublin criminals at the beginning of the campaign was outrageous.

The debates have been woeful.

Please, please, no more debates, we have enough soporific programmes on TV.

Let the presidential candidates have some dignity on the last week of campaigning and let us get on with our lives on October 28.

Joe Kennelly

Inniscarra

Co Cork