Sir, – One gay out, another Gay in to tackle a declared Gay? – Yours, etc,
Sir, – Is it possible to submit a “write-in” ballot in Ireland for a presidential election, as for example was done in the senate elections in the US in 2010, when Senator Lisa Murkowski successfully ran for re-election in Alaska, despite not being on the ballot paper? Or would our legislators be unable to cope with such an exercise in democracy? – Yours, etc,
Sir, – The presidential election is at risk of turning into a farce cum RTÉ reality show: “I’m a celebrity, get me into here”. – Yours, etc,
Sir, – Shur wouldn’t Gay Byrne be perfect? His middle name is “Mary”! – Yours, etc,
Sir, – If Gay Byrne is in good health then his age of 77 ought to be no impediment to his becoming President of Ireland if the Irish people so wish it (as they seem to do). I still recall with pleasure the appearance of president Éamon de Valera walking across College Park in glorious sunshine at the Trinity races of 1969. He must have been 87 at the time and he seemed to me to be in great form. It must have been God’s will. – Yours, etc,
Sir, – Gay Byrne states “...it would take some considerable persuasion” by the public to have him consider running for the presidency of Ireland (Home News, August 6th). What extreme arrogance. Indicating: I want to be President of Ireland but I am not prepared to make any personal sacrifice, either in time or personal finances, unless the people of Ireland hand me the job on a golden platter.
But then this is symbolic of most people in Ireland who seek public office – no personal sacrifice for the good of the Nation — but what is in it for me and what do I get out of it. – Yours, etc,
Sir, – Donald Clarke is correct (Opinion, August 6th). Our head of state seems to be there to mimic the position of the British monarchy, which is itself a fossil from the long and convoluted struggle to establish democracy. As such the presidency has often served as a kind of (very expensive) honours system for worthy retirees from party politics, and the idea in a lot of heads that it should now be occupied by a quaint ceremonial figure is a luxury we simply cannot afford.
What the article fails to address is that nothing can be done constitutionally about this in time for the election. We can, however, learn from the outgoing. We were lucky that Mary McAleese was well qualified, and chose to act, to oil the gears of the peace process, which was the eventual solution to arguably the greatest problem that faced the State in her time.
Now our new president should be chosen for his or her ability to assist the organs of State to resolve this generation’s greatest challenge, that of economic recovery. This should be possible without any reference to politics, party or independent. – Yours, etc,
Sir, – The contest to become Ireland’s next president has all the trappings of the hypoxia of Irish pond life, lacking in dissolved oxygen and has now become eutrophic with the green algae that is normally associated with stagnation.
In the present economic climate, would it not be prudent therefore to give all of the presidential jobseekers the benefit of an internship under the programme for Jobstart, at least for the first year or so, to see how they shape up, and then we shall see which contestant best fits the roll of President of Ireland? – Yours, etc,
Sir, – Following the unfortunate circumstances that saw Senator David Norris quit the presidential race, does Rosemary “Dana” Scallan not realise what she might be letting herself in for should she decide to enter the fray? After all, it’s on the record that the former MEP has All Kinds of Everything in her past. – Yours, etc,
Sir, – Is it too late for a constitutional ban on presidential candidates who have appeared on reality TV shows? – Yours, etc,
Sir, – Having regard to the recent relentless media coverage of Senator Norris’s appeal for clemency in a judicial matter, I thought it only fair to consider the following: A spokesman for Labour’s candidate Michael D Higgins said he has never written to a judge in relation to any criminal matter. The two independent candidates for the presidency, Mary Davis and Sean Gallagher, have both said they have never sought clemency for anyone facing or convicted of criminal charges. Gay Mitchell’s spokesperson has confirmed that for more than three decades in politics, he has made pleas for clemency on behalf of members of the public. As he is therefore the only remaining presidential candidate to have admitted same/similar actions as Senator Norris, when will the objective scrutiny of Gay Mitchell’s admitted actions begin? – Yours etc,
KEVIN COONEY,
Abbeyfield Lawns,
Killester,
Dublin 5.