Dependence on Constitution highlighted

There are dangers in seeking to have neutrality enshrined in the Constitution, a prominent barrister said at a St Patrick's Festival symposium at Dublin Castle yesterday.

Mr Frank Callanan said the roots of Irish neutrality in the second World War were "highly pragmatic" deriving from the agreement with Britain in relation to the Treaty ports in 1938, which rendered neutrality viable.

"We need to be careful about thinking of Ireland as a moral place apart in Europe, but occupying a position of moral splendid isolation," he said. Irish people had an exaggerated belief in what could be achieved by the Constitution due to a crisis of trust in Irish politics.

Mr Callanan said that in recent years this belief had led to a desire for referendums on sensitive issues in order to constitutionally entrench what would ordinarily be legislative provisions.

This belief had its roots in the crisis of trust in Irish politics and in the widely felt need to maintain an institutionalised check on a mistrusted political class, he said.

The notion of what it means to be Irish was explored on many levels at the "Talking Irish" symposium. Speakers included Irish entrepreneurs, publishers, artists, sporting figures, authors, and academics. Michael O'Suilleabhain, Mick O'Dwyer, Barbara Heinzen and Norah Casey took part.

On the subject of the strength and nature of Ireland's contribution to the world, Mr Tom Hyland, founder of the East Timor Ireland Solidarity campaign, said our "colonial domination" had led us to champion the underdog, but with increased prosperity this had changed.

"It seems to me that when we had a little we were willing to give a lot. Now that we have a lot we are willing to give little," he said.

Discussing ways to create a balance for sustainable development between individuals and the State, Sister Stanislaus Kennedy said a new kind of politics was needed, "politics driven by moral principles and values, freedom, equality, solidarity, tolerance, respect for nature and shared responsibility".

During a group discussion focused on Irish success stories, Mr Padraig O'Ceidigh of Aer Arann spoke of his journey from buying a company with an annual turnover of £260,000 seven or eight years ago to running a company with a turnover of €60 million.

Author Mr Charles Handy said he hoped that Irish society might be saved in the future by the growing numbers of older women. "They are capable of reinventing themselves in different roles and doing worthwhile things with other people. Maybe they will lead the way into a more gentle, more caring society," he said.

Reports on the symposium will be available on the Irish Times special St Patrick's Day website at www.ireland.com