AS I SEE IT
BY MARIANNE HERON
Congratulations to Catherine Connolly, who began her Presidential campaign early, worked hard and won hearts. That she is our 10th President is due partly to circumstance: the effect of our convoluted nomination system, combined with misjudgements by the two main parties.
Had it been otherwise, there might have been a different result, but perhaps we are fortunate for our new President-to-be may be the very woman that we need at the moment – to speak out for the neglected, the left behind and for peace. Ms Connolly has had months to form the vision for her presidency: we are just getting used to her win so, perhaps, it is a good time for a wish list for her tenure.
1. Let’s hope that Connolly retains her independence, having stood as an independent candidate. The coalition of parties from the Left who backed her are claiming her win as a victory and watershed in Irish politics. This is hardly true. The Left are unlikely to put their differences aside and come together in future and the people rejected Sinn Fein in the last election. Aside from Connolly’s appeal, this was an anti- Government vote; half the voters stayed away and an astounding 13% spoiled their votes in protest, largely over the Jim Gavin debacle and the lack of alternative candidates.
2. It would be wonderful if the new President could’ shine a light’, as presidential candidates are fond of saying, on areas which need and deserve attention, areas often covered in this column: among them carers, children in needs of surgery or psychiatric assessment, survivors of mother and baby homes and asylum seekers.
3. The Office of Public works might be encouraged to provide an example of sustainability in the 130 acres of parkland and Victorian gardens surrounding the 1751 Aras. Former first Lady Michelle Obama created a vegetable garden at the White House. Why not one at the Aras, even a spot of wilding instead of lawns and bedding plants while respecting the Richard Turner greenhouse and parterre?
4. Encouraging cross-border initiatives and all the ground work that needs to be done in advance of unity is the best way to establish trust and bring North and South together.
5. The current enthusiasm for learning Irish is great and we are proud to have a President who has Irish. But go easy with Gaeilge in the North, where for some it can seem like cultural imperialism. Witness the destruction of street signs in Irish.
6. With her good figure and poise the President=elect could be an ideal candidate to promote Irish fashion where many new designers are coming to the fore, not only with formal wear but with knitwear and casual clothing.
7. One of the President’s powers is to grant a Presidential Pardon on the advice of the Government acting on a petition for miscarriage of justice. It would be a relief to have a pardon for secondary teacher Enoch Burke, dismissed from Wilson’s Hospital School stemming from refusal to use the transgender pronoun ‘they’ on the grounds of his religious belief. Connolly approves of the Gender Recognition Act and has said: “We need an inclusive society, to move away from imposing beliefs that someone is not comfortable with.” Surely this should work both ways.
8. Hosting an international centre for diplomacy (the Aras has 95 rooms and peace-making succeeds better when women are involved) to pool ideas on supporting peace initiatives around the world, arms reduction and preventing conflicts escalating, like the horrors unfolding in the Sudan, could be a splendid contribution. As a neutral country Ireland is ideally placed for this role. War is abhorrent but defence is necessary where aggressors threaten to conquer or take over countries, as the Nazis did in WWII and as Russia is doing in Ukraine before paths can be cleared to bring lasting peace.
9. By 2030 Connolly (68), born under the nurturing Cancer sign, will be one in a million over 65s. Pensioners need a champion for imaginative support, offsetting loneliness and blame for being a cost to the Nation.
10. Catherine Connolly says that she will represent a ‘New Republic’. We hardly want a revolution, the Republic we have will do fine with a bit of renewal and good housekeeping.
