Tradition is not always the best guide. Simply because a 35-year qualifying limit was adopted for presidential candidates in 1937 does not mean it should be retained. Society has changed dramatically in the intervening decades and this age barrier, always arbitrary, now appears to be both discriminatory and excessively paternalistic. Citizens may now be elected to the Dáil and Seanad at 21 years of age and to local councils at 18. A Yes vote in the referendum on Friday would remove an unnecessary prejudice from Irish life.
This provision reflects a lack of trust in the political process and, ultimately, in the electorate. As things stand, the selection process is tightly controlled. Intending candidates must receive a nomination from four county councils or from 20 members of the Oireachtas. Only then are they allowed to approach the public for support. An age limit provides an inbuilt bias towards established politicians and ignores the possibility that youth and ability can offer a more effective mix. The public should be trusted on that issue.
The most disappointing aspect of this particular referendum has been the absence of political engagement. The question was put and the parties retired, allowing apathy and a lack of debate to deprive the question of political relevance. The presidency was designed as a largely ceremonial office.
The incumbent is required to stay out of domestic politics; cannot leave the State without government permission and important speeches are normally vetted in advance. Like children from those far-off days, the “man in the Park” was seen but not usually heard. The last three presidents have attempted to expand those boundaries. They made the position more relevant by raising issues of social justice and by reaching out to voluntary groups, the diaspora and local communities.
Reducing the age limit would not guarantee the future nomination of young candidates. Our youngest presidents, Mary Robinson and Mary McAleese, were 46 years of age when elected. But it might encourage more innovative thinking.