Madam, – Much scorn has been heaped on Enda Kenny’s suggestion to abolish the Seanad.Whatever the merits of his recommendation – which I heartily endorse – I believe the office of the president should be abolished.
As a former member of the Defence Forces, who participated in several presidential guards of honour, I felt embarrassed on such occasions and viewed the pomp as a pointless ceremonial extravagance totally unjustified for such a small country. In these straitened times “when everything is being looked at”, according to Brian Cowen, no valid case can be made for the continuation of this office.
With President Mary McAleese due to retire soon, the time is opportune for abolishing the presidency and it would demonstrate the Government’s determination to deal with the devastating deficit.
I can think of no issue in recent years that the president has highlighted or generated debate about. The president is constitutionally debarred from any meaningful political function, other than rubber-stamping Government legislation – which underlines the pointlessness of the position. The taoiseach could comfortably preside as head of State at ceremonial functions.
At a time when the health service and the educational system are being targeted for cuts, the Áras would make an excellent hospital or college, and the gardaí who are being uselessly utilised in presidential protection duties could be redeployed in tackling our spiralling crime. In these hard times the presidency is an expensive extravagance we can no longer afford. – Yours, etc,