Looking beyond politics for the next President

In the 14 years during which she has graced Aras an Uachtarain, President Mary McAleese has saved her finest hour until the twilight of her tenure with her assured handling of the visits by Queen Elizabeth II and President Barack Obama when she did the country and its people so proud. This was the year the Irish presidency came into its own and it shows the value of choosing the right candidate, based not simply on which political party happens to be in power at the time, but taking into account the substance and calibre of the candidate. Whoever follows on from President McAleese will need qualities of gravitas, drive and commitment in spades and the ability to deliver the common touch with the solemnity of high office. President McAleese has done such an outstanding job that her value as head of state is perhaps only now being appreciated by a majority of people who would like to see the constitution changed to allow her stay on for a third term in the wake of the high-profile visits to this country of Queen Elizabeth and President Obama. Currently, the law forbids a President from serving more than two terms in office. President McAleese has been an impressive president, proving any detractors she had wrong from the word go. She has instinctively had her finger on the pulse on life in a distinguished career that has seen her serve two terms in Aras an Uachtarain. In such days as these, where there is such disillusionment with politics and the political system, the President has brought lustre to the office and retained the trust and confidence of the people of the country. That is something from which we can take great heart. The question of whether the role of President needs to be expanded has come up during the past couple of weeks. There can be no doubt the dual presidencies of Mary Robionson and McAleese have effectively transformed what was once seen as a stuffy and somewhat aloof posting into something of which citizens in Ireland are rightly proud and which is now very much part and parcel of public life in Ireland. It was an issue addressed by presidential candidate Mairead McGuuinness at a meeting in Ashbourne last week. She said Bunreacht na hEireann affords the President a unique role within which it is entirely possible to give leadership across virtually every facet of Irish society but without the need for new powers. The Constitution is very specific on the role of President in a number of areas, such as the appointment of the Taoiseach on the nomination of the Dáil, the dissolution of the Dáil, the signing into law of every Bill passed by both houses of the Oireachtas, but the constitution is not prescriptive as to how the President exercises his or her role. Regardless of what the constitution says, over the last 21 years Presidents Robinson and McAleese have expanded and enhanced the role and position of President without any additional powers. "The current and previous incumbents have shown that the President, without being in any way political, is in a position under the constitution to play a role of leadership, be it economic, social, cultural or inspirational," said Ms McGuinness. Giving additional powers to the President is not necessary and could even be counterproductive in terms of the independence of the office. Some would argue it could even upset the balance that exists between the Presidency and the Oireachtas which has served the State so well. Mrs McAleese has raised the profile of the office of President more than any other during the past 14 years and the events of the past few weeks have been a fitting climax to her term of office, which will end in autumn. She has set a standard of excellence and eloquence in the performance of her duties both at home and abroad, much of which was made possible because of the groundbreaking presidency of her predecessor Mary Robinson, who pushed the boundaries to new heights. The past two Presidents have set the bar high, so whoever the Irish people elect later this year will know they have a hard act to follow, and the Irish people will expect nothing more than the high standards already set. Given that two of the most successful Presidents were not ex-politicians suggests that perhaps the political parties should not confine their searches to those who have served their time in the Oireachtas, but should cast their nets wider to find a candidate that has true star potential.