It’s time for Ireland to come of age with a young, uncynical President

CAN we talk about the other referendum? 

I keep meeting people who think there’s only one referendum on May 22, the one about marriage equality. That’s the one that all the campaigning and all the media coverage is about, and it is vitally important. How we vote in that referendum will make a big statement about us and about how we think.

I urge you to look at an inspirational video produced by BeLonGTo. BeLonGTo is the national organisation that advocates for, and supports, young gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people. The video is in support of a ‘yes’ vote and it’s called ‘Bring your family with you’. If you ‘google’ that name, you’ll find it.

But the other referendum — the invisible one — enables us to make a hell of a statement, too. If we say ‘yes’, we will be saying that we believe that anyone who is 21 can be a candidate for the office of President of Ireland.

When I first heard of this, my reaction was the same as that of every (other) grumpy old man I know. ‘For God’s sake! How could anyone of that age possibly have the life experience, or the political or constitutional knowledge, to be President’?

What if they were called on to act in a major constitutional crisis? How could they possibly know which way to turn?

But, as a voter, we have only one solemn obligation. We’re supposed to think about these things. Sure, we all have our prejudices and our attitudes, but we’re supposed to weigh them up. We’re not supposed to indulge in knee-jerk voting when we’re asked to change the Constitution.

Well, I’ve thought about it. And my instincts are just plain wrong. And so (and this is just my opinion) are all the instincts of all the grumpy old men (and a few grumpy old women) I know. As much as I respect them, they’re wrong.

So here are nine reasons for voting ‘yes’ on May 22, to allow a 21-year-old citizen to become a candidate for the office of President.

1) Consider what we’re being asked to vote for. We’re not voting to put a young man or woman in the Áras — we’re voting to allow them to compete for the Áras. They still have to secure a nomination in the same way as before. And we all know that Presidential elections are tough, gruelling and exposing. Winning or losing a Presidential election, as we all know, happens for a thousand reasons that have nothing to do with age. The 21- or 25-year-old who survives all that will be a remarkable young person — someone of whom to be genuinely proud.

2) Despite what we might think, it is not true that the President of Ireland can be called on to act alone in a grave constitutional crisis. Or if it is, it’s so rare that it’s not worth considering.

There is only one circumstance in which the President can act entirely on his or her own discretion — he or she can refuse to call a general election, if asked to do so by a Taoiseach who has lost the confidence of the Dáil.

That has never happened, not once in our history. (Yes, I know, Charlie Haughey tried it on — but he wasn’t Taoiseach and he didn’t have the right to even try.)

3) Every other constitutional function the President has must be exercised on the advice of the government, or as a result of an existing law, or following consultation with the Council of State (where a young President would be surrounded by enough political and constitutional experience to wear anyone out).

4) So we don’t need (and have never needed) a constitutional wizard to be President. Sure, we’re looking for skill in that area — principally, the skill of knowing how and when to get good advice, and how to look for it. What we always hope for in our President (and we’ve been lucky in that regard) is a sense of leadership, and someone we can be proud of when they’re representing us.

5) Since when was all of that only guaranteed by age? Just think of all the messes, all the scandals, all the economic, social and political disasters of the last ten or twenty years, in all the different sectors of our lives.

Now, think about who was responsible for all that. A pretty wide range of men and women, I’m sure you’ll agree, from all walks of business, politics, and the professions. They all had only one thing in common with each other — they had all reached the age at which they were qualified to be President.

6) Yes, they had all this wisdom and experience we all value so much. And yet, between the lot of them, they made a complete mess of a country that was doing rather well.

So, young people don’t have any of the experience that’s so important. What do they have? They have passion and integrity and vision, and excitement about the future. They have idealism and talent and creativity. They have ambition — and usually not selfish ambition. Why don’t we want any of that in our President?

7) I’m surrounded by all of that. I work with it day in and day out — with young people who have the talent to shape the world. In my day job, I work with young people whose talent and idealism astound me.

I’ve met school children and students, and young employees in companies we work with, who have given me huge hope and confidence in the future, because they’re so brilliant.

I’ve met children who have overcome immense challenges in their lives, to the point where I’m lost in admiration for them. I wouldn’t hesitate for a minute in entrusting them to represent me — and all of us — anywhere.

8) There are two other reasons. I’ve always wanted to see a highly energetic, sleeves-rolled-up kind of President, getting stuck in on the ground to help communities draw inspiration and solve problems. That’s the sort of presidency that needs all the idealism and creativity I’ve mentioned, but energy, too — the kind of energy and enthusiasm, untainted by cynicism, that comes with youth.

9) And, last but not least. Wouldn’t it be fantastic, in a country whose young population has one of the highest proportions in the developed world, seeing a young person representing us abroad, with style and energy and conviction?

Imagine a world stage that is middle-aged, grey, ponderous, boring.

And in the middle of all that, the startlingly young and smiling President of a country like ours. Brilliant!

A third of our population is under 30. We’re happy to elect them to every other level of government. We keep saying they’re the future. Let’s give the future its chance now, by voting ‘yes’ in both referendums on May 22.

Young people have passion and integrity and vision...why don’t we want any of that in our President?