Letters to the Editor: Withdrawal of Jim Gavin creates crisis

If these groups succeed in electing a withdrawn candidate, Jim Gavin would be presented with a stark choice. Picture: Cillian Sherlock/PA

The fallout from the presidential campaign, particularly the withdrawal of Jim Gavin, must force a stark realisation: our democracy is now potentially navigating a dangerous and self-inflicted crisis. The withdrawal of Fianna Fáil’s candidate and its implications only scratch the surface of the constitutional recklessness currently afoot.

We have arrived at a point where the entire integrity of the election, and indeed the office of the President, could be undermined by a targeted protest vote. It is deeply disturbing to see reports of a sizable cohort of “online warriors” and members of the alt-right cohort advocating for a protest strategy — by spoiling votes to push non-candidates like Maria Steen and Nick Delehanty. Now it seems they are collectively pledging their number one vote to the now-withdrawn candidate Jim Gavin.

While this may sound like electoral fantasy, the path to constitutional disruption is terrifyingly clear. If these groups succeed in electing a withdrawn candidate, Jim Gavin would be presented with a stark choice. Should he decline the office — as would be consistent with his withdrawal — a new election would be called immediately. This, ironically, presents a path for those outside the establishment to force a necessary re-run within 60 days and potentially secure what they would consider a more independent and robust nomination process the second time around and get their man or woman onto the ballot paper.

Alternatively, should Mr Gavin accept the presidency, he would be vulnerable to impeachment under Article 12.10 for “stated misbehaviour”. Given the context of his recent admission and withdrawal, a motion for removal would likely be straightforward, again leading to a new election.

This dangerous situation, where political actors can leverage constitutional loopholes and public disaffection to force successive elections, puts our Constitution under intense pressure. And the blame for this instability rests squarely on the shoulders of one individual: Micheál Martin. His fundamental failure of judgement in selecting and pushing an “untried candidate” whose past was not sufficiently vetted has fractured the democratic process and opened the door for this precise form of constitutional blackmail.

We must urgently discuss how to safeguard the nomination process before cynical tactics inflict lasting damage on the highest office in the State.

Killian Brennan, Malahide Rd, Dublin 17

Government are managing badly

Regarding the article — ‘Chambers ‘threw Gavin under the bus’, say FF TDs’ — (Irish Examiner, October 7).

It is becoming increasingly difficult to support the Government in the manner to which it has decided to manage Ireland.

I always expected reform or at least a correction of the obvious abuses where the elite continue to prosper and, for example, the PAYE sector and the working classes are continually suppressed with taxes and more taxes. Reform is a correction of abuses, but sadly it looks like this will not happen.

Government is the foundation of democracy; if that fails, democracy will fail, and as I currently see it, the future holds little hope for any government where the present holds little hope for our working people and our younger generation who are trying their absolute best to get a foothold and build a life for themselves, but sadly it looks like this Government’s plans don’t include the ordinary working people of this country.

John Cribben, Rathfarnham

Staying neutral

Regarding Edward Burke’s — ‘The EU is preparing for war — are we?’ (Irish Examiner, October 7). Neutral Ireland should be actively reinforcing its neutrality and actively promoting international peace and global justice. Wars of aggression, resource wars, and global injustice are the main causes of international conflicts. The Orwellian idea of trying to make peace by making war should have no place in Ireland’s national or foreign policies.

Mr Burke cites recent drone activity over Denmark as indicating “Russia was deliberately targeting the EU”. There are indications now that this may have been a false-flag incident. He cites Denmark’s prime minister Mette Frederiksen as warning that “Russia was deliberately targeting the EU … while also undermining Europe’s democracies through its support for extremists”. This was, she said, “the most dangerous moment in Europe since the Second World War.”

Most of the problems with European and EU democracies come from within those democracies, and are not caused by Russia. All wars are wrong, including Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, but this war was provoked by the US, EU, and Nato, and by the abandonment of Ukrainian neutrality. Her statement that this is “the most dangerous moment in Europe since the Second World War” is correct given the serious risk of provoking a nuclear war with catastrophic consequences for all of humanity. All European governments should be doing everything possible to reestablish a lasting peace in Europe.

Burke mentions Ireland’s commitment to the EU, and the proposals to exchange the triple lock for a double lock, thereby reneging or betraying the solemn undertakings given during the Nice and Lisbon treaties. This abandonment of neutrality could endanger the commitment of the Irish people to the EU, as well as repeating the mistakes that cost the lives of up to 50,000 Irishmen in the First World War.

Edward Horgan, Castletroy, Limerick

Love of language

“I’m trying to make people fall back in love with the landscape and the language.” These were the recent words uttered by the great nature-lover, writer, Gaeilgeoir, explorer Manchán Magan, who had such a heartfelt love of the land he trod.

Táimse agus a lán eile ar fúd an domhain ana bhrónach agus cráite go bhfuil an duine spioradálta seo imithe uainn agus chomh hobann sin ochón! ochón! Bhaineamar an-taithneamh as a gcuid chláracha, sraitheanna fíor-shuimiúla ar TG4 agus chuir mé an scéal timpeall gach uair, chun daoine a chur i gcuimhne orthu agus sásamh a bhaint astu.

Rugadh Manchán i mBaile Átha Cliath ach is léir gur chaith an clann a lán dá saolta i gCeanntrá Ciarraí agus Gaeilge ana thabhachtach dóibh, go háirithe ó thionchur a mháthar. Labhair sé faoina shean-mháthair Sighle Humphreys, a d’fhág £10,000 le huacht do Mhanchan agus cheannaigh sé teach ‘éiceabhách’ (eco-friendly) i gCo na hIarmhí. Chuir sé faoi san áit sin agus bhain sé an-úsáid as an talamh ó thús báire, ba léir go raibh tarraingt speisialta ina chroí don nádur, don chré ina shaol coíche.

Sa bhliain 1996, bhí sé ina chónaí i scioból gan dian i sléibhte Himalayas, nuair a d’eirigh imní ar a mháthair faoi agus mhol sí dá dheartháir, Ruán dul ar a thóir. Dhéan siad beirt scannán “Manchán san Ind” a bhí craolta ar TG4 ina dhiaidh.

Bhí sraith iontach le déanaí aige faoina thuras chuig na toibreacha beannaithe (Holy Wells) ar fúd na tíre agus tá liosta fada des na seoda dochreidthe eile a chruthaigh sé ar son cultúr na tíre seo agus thar lear chomh maith. Is fiú a leabhair a léamh faoin nádúr timpeall orainn mar shampla log ainmneacha áiteanna agus an bhrí chruinn a bhaineann leo, saibhreas na talún atá faoinár gcosa agus a lán eile.

Is cailliúint ollmhór tú uainn Manchán chomh hóg sin, táimíd croí bhriste id’ dhiaidh, codladh sámh i leaba seascair na Naomh, bí ag faire orainn agus ag riarú chúrsaí dúinn go fóill, thíos anseo.

Eilís Uí Bhriain, Caisleán Uí Liatháin

Therapy at risk

Regarding Niamh Griffin’s article ‘New therapy regulations ‘will not ensure public safety’’ (Irish Examiner, online, October 6).

I trained in the integrative, humanist tradition of psychotherapy with UCC, the Flatstone Institute, and SHEP (the social and health education project) and worked in the field for about 10 years.

There is an eclectic range of, sometimes contradictory, schools of thought and practice within the profession. The one unifying core principle that defines our profession is our belief that it is fundamentally the relationship between client and a self-aware therapist that heals, more than the theoretical frameworks or specific techniques we employ. Carl Rogers’ research found the resultant qualities of empathy, congruence, and unconditional positive regard provided by a therapist were what made a therapist effective. The ability to offer a consistent, non exploitative relationship can only come from the long, deep, and ongoing self-examination experienced in one’s own psychotherapy and supervision.

I am deeply shocked that psychotherapy sector and regulator Coru intend to remove these requirements from training and practice. This undermines the very heart of the profession and the essential qualities that have made psychotherapy successful and respected. 

Nic Pease, Inchigeela,Co Cork

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