MICHAEL D Higgins promised “a presidency of transformation” as he was inaugurated as the ninth President of Ireland at Dublin Castle yesterday.
In his address, Mr Higgins condemned the individualism of the boom years that “tended to value the worth of a person in terms of the accumulation of wealth rather than their fundamental dignity”.
He also pledged to hold a number of presidency seminars to explore important themes in Irish life. The first would focus “on being young in Ireland” and other themes would include “the restoration of trust in our institutions, the ethical connection between our economy and society the future of a Europe built on peace, social solidarity and sustainability”.
Mr Higgins was surrounded by dignitaries of church and State as he repeated the Declaration of Office undertaking to maintain the Constitution and uphold the laws of the State.
Taoiseach Enda Kenny, Government Ministers, Council of State members including former presidents Mary Robinson and Mary McAleese, and three former taoisigh, Brian Cowen, John Bruton and Liam Cosgrave, were among those who flanked Mr Higgins during the inauguration ceremony.
He said that in Ireland’s “rich heritage some of our richest moments have been those that turned towards the future and a sense of what might be possible”. It was that ability that would “enable us to transcend our present difficulties and celebrate the real Republic which is ours for the making”.
“...We Irish are a creative, resourceful, talented and warm people, with a firm sense of common decency and justice. Let us address the next seven years with hope and courage as we work together to build the future for our country – an Ireland we all feel part of, an Ireland we all feel proud of,” he said.
The formal ceremony started with a prayer service led by leaders of six Christian churches, the Chief Rabbi, and a representative of the Islamic faith. There was also a reflection by Susie Kennedy of the Humanist Association who was invited to participate by at the instigation of President Higgins.
The Declaration of Office was read in Irish by the Chief Justice, Susan Denham, and repeated by Mr Higgins. Mrs Justice Denham then handed over the presidential seal to the new President.
Mr Higgins expressed gratitude for the strong mandate he had received and singled out for praise the “two great women” who had preceded him in the office.
“I also realise the challenges that I face, that we face together, in closing a chapter that has left us fragile as an economy, but most of all wounded as a society, with unacceptable levels of unemployment, mortgage insecurity, collapsing property values and many broken expectations.”
People now wanted to move beyond anger, frustration or cynicism and to draw on our shared strengths, he said. “To close the chapter on that which has failed, that which was not the best version of ourselves as a people, and open a new chapter based on a different version of our Irishness – will require a transition in our political thinking, in our view of the public world, in our institutions, and, most difficult of all, in our consciousness.”
Mr Higgins said “original thinking” would be valued during his “presidency of ideas”, during which he hoped the Irish people would “realise our limitless possibilities”. The President said he was inviting all citizens of all ages to make a contribution towards shaping the future, “to be the arrow, not the target”.
He said a decade of commemoration lay ahead, providing an opportunity to “celebrate the real Republic which is ours for the making”.
The Irish had been a “diasporic” people throughout history, with many incidences of “involuntary emigration”. He promised to represent all of the Irish wherever they may be and described the people of the country as “creative, resourceful, talented and warm”.
Speaking before Mr Higgins, Taoiseach Enda Kenny said the President gave truth to an old Irish saying: “There is no nobility without virtue”, adding that the new President had authenticity as a poet, philosopher, patriot and politician that would resonate across the country and around the world. Later Mr Kenny spoke of the loss of freedom and change of lifestyle for Mr Higgins.
Asked if he was concerned that the proposed presidential seminars would create any conflict with Government, Mr Kenny said Mr Higgins was “well aware of the constraints of the Constitution as far as the presidency is concerned”. Mr Kenny also noted that Mr Higgins would “probably go to Britain for a return visit” and this would “have an enormous impact following the visit of the Queen here”.
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