NOW MORE than ever, the role of President of Ireland assumes a greater importance. President Mary McAleese has raised the profile of the office of President in her 14-year tenure as Head of State, which will be defined by her handling of the first State visit of the British monarch since Independence and President Barack Obama.
These events were a fitting climax to her term of office, which ends in November, and the highlights of a remarkable Presidency. Since 1997, she has set a standard of engagement and excellence in the performance of her public duties. That was made possible because her predecessor, Mary Robinson, the State’s first woman President, extended the role to new and unimagined heights, yet within the parameters of the Constitution. The next President will have two very hard acts to follow.
The office of President, constitutionally explored and expanded by these two women, is now a fixture in Irish politics for so many people. In these days of disillusionment with politics and the political system, the office of President has retained the trust and confidence of citizens. It is relevant.
At present, many prospective candidates aspire to that high office, but none, as yet, has won a nomination to contest the presidential election. That requires the support either of 20 TDs or of four local councils, which makes it difficult for Independent candidates to secure a nomination without the backing of a party. Since 1937, there have been 12 elections to the Presidency; half were contested at the ballot box and – where only one candidate was nominated – half were not. But this time, a vote seems likely, given the interest shown by so many prospective candidates in securing a nomination.
Former Taoiseach John Bruton announced over the weekend that he was honoured to be asked to be the Fine Gael candidate but that he was not interested in the job. He did confirm that he had not sought an expansion its powers. After the McAleese Presidency, in particular, that would seem not to be necessary.
The President has clear constitutional obligations and duties, few independent functions and can act only on the advice of the government. In 1973, Erskine Childers, in announcing his candidature for the Presidency, made it clear that he wished to expand “the dimension and character” of the office. However his sudden death after two years in office, and the lack of enthusiasm shown by the government for a more independent minded President, meant little progress was made towards that goal.
Later office holders, President Robinson and her successor, showed how it was possible to expand the role of the Presidency – despite the constitutional constraints – in a non-partisan manner that met the approval of government. The late Fine Gael TD John Kelly had a colourful description of the President as a “decorative figurehead”, but what is needed more than ever today is a Head of State who will articulate our identity, at home and abroad, our sense of self-worth and our confidence in the future in these challenging economic times.