Seanad Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 14 Nov 1990

Vol. 126 No. 10

Toghchán an Uachtaráin. Election of President.

An Cathaoirleach

Tá scéala faighte agam ó Cheann Comhairimh Toghcháin an Uachtaráin á chur in úil dom go ndearna sé, an 9 Samhain 1990, a dhearbhú Mary Robinson a bheith tofa mar Uachtarán ar Éirinn.

I have received a communication from the Presidential Returning Officer informing me that he had, on 9 November 1990, declared Mary Robinson to have been elected President of Ireland.

I want to take the opportunity to congratulate the President-elect, Mary Robinson. It is appropriate that the various groupings in the Seanad be allowed an opportunity to express their good wishes. Before we deal with the Order of Business, I will call on the Leader of the House.

Mr. Fallon

I think what we can say in regard to the events of last week is that we had three very fine candidates seeking election to the Presidency of Ireland. Any one of them would have played an important role in that particular field. We can offer our commiserations to Brian Lenihan and his family and to Austin Currie and his family. But on the day, 7 November, it was the votes of the people of Ireland who chose Mary Robinson to be our next President. She is my President, she is your President. The officeholder of the Presidency deserves our respect, our loyalty and our support. I have no doubt that she will have that in abundance from Members of this House.

My memory of Mary Robinson — she was a Member of this Seanad for approximately 20 years — was that of a person of great intellect. She was highly articulate, she was very much an independent person. Those are some of the qualities that persuaded so many people to cross their own traditional party lines to ensure what can only be described as a remarkable success. On the day, of course, we were electing a person to what is a symbolic position rather than, say, to an office of real political power. We were not in fact electing a Government. Indeed, the polls suggest that the majority of Irish people would have shown satisfaction with the performance of the Government if there had been an election on that particular day. What happened on the day showed that Mary Robinson was a good winner and a clear winner. The Irish people in their wisdom wished to elect a different kind of President. I think the major task now for the President is to translate into action the great groundswell of goodwill and the obvious desire for change that abounds throughout the land for her, to translate the Presidency into a resource for the people, to bring a new freshness and a new dimension to Irish life. On your behalf and on my own behalf I warmly congratulate Mary Robinson on her success and wish her a highly successful and enjoyable Presidency.

Mr. McDonald

I wish to join with the Leader of the House in offering our mead of praise to the candidates Austin Currie, Brian Lenihan and indeed to Mary Robinson. It is a matter of particular joy to me as a long-serving Member of the House to find that at last a distinguished colleague, who rendered such valiant service to the State and to the people of Ireland here in our own Chamber, should be elected as Uachtarán na hÉireann. I want to join with Senator Fallon and with all my colleagues in offering her our warmest congratulations and assuring her of our full loyalty during her term of office.

It is particularly joyous for the Members of this House to see a colleague so honoured by the people. Those of us who worked with her, who knew her dedication to the job and the depth of research that she put into all of her speeches, can look forward to a President who will be extremely meticulous and who will carry out her functions as the Constitution demands. In some of her speeches she said that she would like to extend the bounds of the Presidency as far as possible. Looking at television last week it occurred to me that it would be nice if we had a State opening of the Seanad, even if it was only after the Seanad elections. Perhaps since the Standing Orders of the House now provide for VIPs to come and address the Seanad, it would be nice if we could have a State opening of the Seanad each year. Again, may I wish the new President every happiness and success.

An Cathaoirleach

Just before I call Senator Brendan Ryan I want to point out that we want to ensure that every group has an opportunity to express their good wishes. There are lady Members of the Seanad and we should afford them an opportunity in a special way because of the fact that the President is a lady.

Mr. Norris

There is a very small number of us who were nominators of Mary Robinson——

An Cathaoirleach

I do not intend or wish to restrict anybody. I just ask for the co-operation of everybody.

Mr. B. Ryan

Tá an-áthas orm cúpla focal a rá faoin a tharla sa tír seo an tseachtain seo caite. Tá sé scríofa sna nuachtáin gur ainmnigh Páirtí an Lucht Oibre, Páirtí na nOibrithe agus Páirtí an Chomhaontais Ghlais Mary Robinson, agus tá sé sin fíor. Mar fho-líne don stair agus b'fhéidir gan aon fháth eile, tá anbhród ormsa go raibh m'ainm féin ar an bhfoirm ainmiúcháin dí chomh maith le mo chara an Seanadóir Norris. Is beag an tionchar, ta mé cinnte a bhí agam féin — ní fheadar faoin Seanadóir Norris — i rogha an phobail ach ba é mo ráiteas féin faoin Uachtáranacht a bhí taobh thiar den rud beag sin a dheineas.

I do not want in any way to go back over the events of the Presidential Election. It is, I think, a considerably good reflection on the stability and maturity of our democracy that Mary Robinson's election is now accepted as a good thing and a welcome thing, and that the relative merits of the other candidates are not in dispute but that the choice of the people has been a good one. As one who has been on the losing side of far more battles in politics than on the winning side, I am still happy to record a view that I have recorded when I have often lost; that I have a great respect for the judgment, perception and intelligence of the Irish people. That is something I have said long before this Presidential Election. I said it when I was losing and I am happy to say it now on the one occasion on which I have been on the successful side.

I think it is an exciting and a promising period of Irish history in which a different view of Ireland has been endorsed by the people, and however peculiarly we arrive in this House, we are all servants of the people. I do not want to overestimate my own influence, so I will say quite simply, as a footnote to history that I am very glad that my name, along with that of Senator Norris, was on her nomination paper.

(Interruptions.)

Mr. B. Ryan

I thought on an occasion like this I could speak without interruption from the other side. I have deliberately avoided making remarks that were in the least bit offensive to anybody else and I do believe the Members opposite could have shown the courtesy that I have attempted to show on this matter and not bother to heckle just for once. I was saying nothing in the least bit provocative, I was trying simply to explain that I do not want to gloat over what happened.

An Cathaoirleach

In the context of what we are doing let nothing you say now be a provocation in itself.

Mr. B. Ryan

No, I have no intention of saying anything.

Mr. Fallon

Could I just say it was not a heckle? In fact, it was a support effort.

Mr. B. Ryan

I know what he said.

An Cathaoirleach

Senator Ryan without interruption.

Mr. B. Ryan

I want to say quite simply, in conclusion, that it was one of the particular pleasures of my political career to have had my name associated with that campaign and whatever little effort and whatever influence I had associated with that campaign. I know that President-elect Robinson has the support of everybody in the House because that is the tradition of our democracy and I know it will be true on this occasion.

An Cathaoirleach

I am going to take the political groupings first. Then I will come back to Senator Honan, Senator Hederman, and Senator Helen Keogh.

Dr. Upton

I am delighted to extend my congratulations to Mary Robinson on her election as President of this country. I think she will be a President who will be worthy of the office and indeed worthy of all the Irish people. She has had a very distinguished record; indeed a very distinguished record in this House. I think her election marks something of a new order. She is the first President in this country who comes from the left wing frame of attitude. She is of course the first woman to be elected President. That is certainly a landmark and a very important breakthrough. She is also the youngest person ever to be elected President.

As a Member of the Labour Party, it is a matter of great pride and delight for us. It was our Leader Dick Spring who first approached Mary Robinson. It was our party, along with other parties, who nominated her. I think her election symbolises a new maturity and an emergence of new values in Ireland, and those I certainly welcome.

I would like to sound a note of commiseration to the other two candidates. I think both of them conducted themselves very well and with great dignity throughout the campaign. Despite whatever elements of turbulence did arise, I certainly think that the two other candidates conducted themselves with great dignity. If either of them had been elected I would certainly have had no hesitation in accepting and acknowledging that they too would have been worthy Presidents. There had to be a winner and of course it was great that Mary Robinson was that winner and I certainly want to wish her every success and happiness during her Presidency.

Mr. Cullen

On behalf of myself and the Progressive Democrats I would like to concur with the previous speakers in congratulating Mary Robinson on her election as President. There is no doubt that it is a very definite statement by the Irish people in wanting to look forward as an emerging nation and it sends a very clear message to the youth of Ireland. That is what is at the centre of the election of Mary Robinson. It augurs well for the future, it brings out hope and it sends a very clear message to those young people who have left this country, that Ireland is changing and that it is looking forward. How young Mary Robinson is, has already been referred to. This will send a very positive message throughout the world from this country.

We need, in times that are changing, in the development of the EC, to have a very forward looking view. We in the Oireachtas must take heart from the message that the Irish people have sent forth in the election of Mary Robinson. The changes that are possible now in Irish politics are unbounded. We look forward to supporting the President. I also agree with other speakers in commiserating with the other two fine candidates that stood. Somebody had to win and the people were the final arbiters in the matter. We look forward now to the future and to the potential for change in Irish politics.

Mrs. Honan

I certainly would like to agree with everything that has been said regarding President-elect Robinson gomg to the Park. I hope I would not be wrong in claiming that I might have put it into Deputy Dick Spring's head that a woman should go to the Park. The difference between Deputy Spring and my own party is that he listened, mine did not.

An Cathaoirleach

Order, please. I am sure Senator Honan will be able to continue with less enthusiasm.

Mrs. Honan

I would like, through you, a Chathaoirligh, to convey to President-elect Robinson my warm good wishes. Mary Robinson, from the first day I came here in 1977 until the day she decided to stand down from this House, was a very good and close friend of mine. At times, when I needed advice, I asked Mary for it. We certainly did not hold the same views on a lot of things, as everybody here in this House is well aware, but that did not stop us from being very close and good friends. Nobody was more happy than President-elect Robinson when I was appointed Cathaoirleach of this Seanad by the Taoiseach.

Mr. Ross

I was.

Mrs. Honan

So, without long speeches, a Chathaoirligh, I would like to convey to Mary and to her family my sincere good wishes and good health to serve in the Áras. I was lucky a way back years ago to visit there. In recent times I have not been there too often, but I maybe there in the future again. I will not state the date.

Mrs. Hederman

It seems that it is because I am a woman that I am being given the opportunity to get up and say a few words.

An Cathaoirleach

No, you are being afforded an opportunity——

Mrs. Hederman

I was going to say it is nice to have a little act of discrimination in favour of women for a change. I never have subscribed to the view — I know Mary Robinson never subscribed to it, nor, I am sure, did any of the other women in this Seanad — that you vote for a woman because she is a woman, as was a view held some years ago by the Womens Political Association. Mary Robbinson was elected President probably overwhelmingly by the women of this country but it was because she was an outstanding candidate and because she was held in very high esteem. I would not like to say that I took her seat here; she resigned but I sit in the seat which she probably sat in. That is something of which I am very much aware, and I realise how difficult it would be for me, or for anyone else, to live up to the very high standards which she maintained and to the contribution which she made in this House.

I am delighted that she was elected because she was the most independent of the three candidates that went forward for election. She needed, of course, to have party support. She could not have been nominated — there simply were not sufficient Independents to do so. I am interested to hear, and to know now officially, that Senators Ryan and Norris nominated her or put their names to her paper. I know she had 20 without them. I say that because it is interesting to note that it is not possible to find out — it is a secret document — the nomination papers of the candidates. I tried strenuously on more than one occasion and Mr. Sexton, the returning officer, is not prepared to tell you who signed the nomination paper. I did, of course, in fact know because these two gentlemen told me, but I do think that that is an extraordinary situation, that the public, a Member of the Seanad and somebody who has nominating powers cannot find out what names were put on the various nominating papers. I think it is something which should be changed.

An Cathaoirleach

Senator, I just want to remind you that the content of what you have been saying is not forming part of the words of congratulation that we intended.

Mrs. Hederman

My wholehearted wish is, above all, to congratulate Mary Robinson and to join with the other speakers in wishing her health and happiness in her years in the office. I think that the Irish people showed on this occasion, as was said by Senator Fallon, that they differentiate between other elections and the election of the President, that they can go out and vote for a non-party person. I think it is a pity that the parties hold this as a barometer of the support for their particular party and that all the subsequent happenings took place. That is an unfortunate position but the parties dominate in this country not only the Presidency but also this House and all the county councils.

An Cathaoirleach

I am reminding you again, Senator, and in fairness to every other Member of the House, if we do not have the co-operation of one another we will have a lot of difficulty.

Mrs. Hederman

I will finish with one last remark. I would like to thank the incumbent President, President Hillery, and to congratulate him on 14 excellent years of office. He did the country proud. I certainly feel very proud of his contribution and I would like to thank him for that.

Miss Keogh

I am absolutely delighted to congratulate President-elect Mary Robinson here today. It comes very close to my own heart because she actually occupied the position I occupied myself, which is President of the Women's Political Association. I think that Mary Robinson succeeded in attracting votes from all across the divides of Irish society.

It would be remiss of me not to congratulate the other two excellent candidates for their campaigning, their efforts and indeed their dignity in the final stages.

I think that President-elect Mary Robinson will indeed be a resource for the people, as she said she wishes to be. I hope that the goodwill that we hear this afternoon will follow her also in her endeavours in the Park. I think particularly for women it is tremendous that a woman has been chosen, a young woman of such enormous ability, somebody who was a Senator, somebody who has had such an excellent track record. I think she will be a badge of courage for Irish women. I hope that they will take that on board and that they will realise that with her election as President the horizons are widened for every woman in Ireland. I sincerely hope that that message will come through, particularly to all those women who voted for her. That is one reason why I am so proud to congratulate her and to wish her well in the coming years. Also I would like to say how much I congratulate her husband for his support and also her family.

Mrs. Jackman

Thank you for the opportunity of offering my wishes of congratulations to President-elect Mary Robinson. Mary is an inspiration now for all the people of Ireland, not just women, not just young people, but for all. She was elected by the majority. She is a person who is now carrying the banner for the whole of Ireland. But she carried the banner at a time when it was most unpopular for somebody to come out so strongly in areas of social legislation which would have been controversial at the time. She did that as a young woman against the tide. She is now a person that all of us should be very proud of, for her courage, for her personality in the conducting of her campaign where she came across as a credit to Irish people, a credit to the people of 1990. She has changed the direction of Irish thinking because she is there as somebody who took on what people thought initially was going to be an uphill battle. As it happens, she set out, she won the people of Ireland and she will continue to win the people of Ireland. I hope she will be an inspiration for more women to begin their political careers with the county councils but particularly in Seanad Éireann from which she started at a very young age.

I would like, too, to congratulate the other two candidates. It was a very interesting occasion for Ireland. She will continue to be a leading light for us not just here but also right across Europe.

Mr. Norris

I would like, first of all, to say that it is important to bear in mind that it was not just women who voted for Mary Robinson, perhaps I speak as an example, like Leopold Bloom, of a new womanly man, claiming that I also voted for Mary Robinson. I hope this does not violate the secrecy of the ballot. As Senator Jackman said, it is a particularly important election for the women of this country because the fact that a woman has achieved the highest office of this State establishes a new role model for women — the highest offices of this State are now clearly attainable by women. I hope that this will lead to a greater participation by women and the allowance of a greater participation by women at all levels of Irish life and Irish society.

I am very grateful to you, a Chathaoirligh, for allowing me this opportunity to speak, although I know that you had wished perhaps to restrict the discussion because we have other business to get on to, but I have known Mary Robinson for almost 30 years. We entered college in the same year, we were both elected to a foundation scholarship in 1965 and when she was elected first of all to this House I had some small official role — I think I was something called her election agent at that time. Then it was my privilege to engage her services professionally in a number of legal cases some of which, I hope, have left some small mark on the fabric of this society and with at least one of which, Sir, I think you are also acquainted yourself.

An Cathaoirleach

You will not involve me in the congratulations.

Mr. Norris

I am sure that you would not wish to be dissociated from them either, but I will not involve you in a wrangle about them. I merely wish to indicate that it has been my privilege to secure the services of somebody who was a very distinguished barrister and representative and who has served this country well not just in the Irish courts but also in the European courts.

As Senator Ryan said, it was a great privilege also for me to be one of the signatories to her papers. Senator Hederman indicated, first of all, that she was unaware officially but she was aware unofficially for quite some time, as I made it clear to her when she invited me to sign her own papers, but I had already committed myself to signing those of Mary Robinson.

Mary Robinson brings to this office qualities of courage, integrity and honesty and she is also bringing something that has developed as far as the perceptions of a number of people are concerned. She always had these qualities. She always had intellectual qualities. People may have mistaken her as a very distant person, but I think the affection and the emotion with which her campaign was received throughout the country reflected itself on her and allowed her — and I think she is quite a shy person in her own way — to display that warmth and that affection back to the people of Ireland. This was clearly reflected in what was a regal attendance at the RDS. Perhaps it was this that suggested to Senator McDonald that she might perform an opening of the Upper House of Parliament.

I would like to finish by making one comment, which is not I think at all controversial but puts it into a certain context. I think we the Irish people are at heart overwhelmingly a decent and tolerant people. That was shown throughout this election, not only in the support for Mary Robinson but also by the deep affection and sympathy with which the troubled candidacies of the other two candidates were regarded. Unlike other countries such as the United States of America, where there was a recent Presidential Election in which the world "liberal" was traduced, and those people of the United States of America permitted this to happen, the world "liberal" by the election of Mary Robinson, has been resoundingly vindicated and I thank God for it.

Mrs. Bennett

I would like to congratulate the President-elect, Mary Robinson, on her election as the first woman President of Ireland. Like a lot of people here I do not know her very well. I know her slightly, but from what I know of her she will be a very visible President. On that account she will be a role maker for the women and the youth of Ireland. I would like to take this opportunity to wish her well in Áras an Uachtaráin.

Mr. Staunton

I would like to join in this vote of congratulations. I will be very brief. I felt it appropriate to say something because I was a Member of the Oireachtas with the President-elect, Mary Robinson, for a number of years. I was a member of the first Oireachtas Committee for Secondary Legislation on the European Community with her in 1973-77. I was also a member of the International Commission with her for about 10 years. Knowing her background I know she will be a great credit to this country. I take pride in the fact that her origins are in my own county of Mayo, and I wish her every success. In saying that I would like to commiserate with Deputies Lenihan and Currie. They fought a good fight and I wish them both every success and health in the future.

Professor Conroy

I would like to join in best wishes and congratulations to Mary Robinson. I knew her as a fellow Senator. She was indeed at that time a very able front bench spokesperson for the Labour Party. My recollection is that at that time she occupied one of the front bench seats here. She was always an exceptionally courteous person and also had a very thoughtful and imaginative contribution to make to our debates. I am sure she will carry that dignity and courtesy through to Áras an Uachtaráin now that she is the first citizen of this country. I wish her and her family well.

I would like if I may also to join in a word to the other candidates, the candidate from my own party, who, in defeat, as he did in illness, showed great magnanimity and courage; also the other candidate who had a very difficult situation and also acted with great dignity. We must all be very pleased on all sides of this House that we had three such excellent candidates for the office of President.

Mr. Costello

I, too, would like to join in the congratulations to Mary Robinson on her marvellous success. It is a historic moment and it augurs very well for the kind of society that she has projected and the ideals in her campaign. She has over many years been associated with issues, particularly social ones, which have been to some extent marginalised in our society but which I believe have always been central and now are seen to be central in the minds of the people of Ireland by the enormous vote they have given her in electing her to the highest office in the land. I believe we will benefit enormously by the ideals and the integrity which she will symbolise for us in our society, and democracy as a whole is certainly well and truly vindicated in this particular case.

I would also like to commiserate with the other two candidates and state that they fought a very courageous campaign in difficult circumstances at times. To the outgoing President we also owe a vote of congratulations for the very fine way in which he performed his duties over the last 14 years.

Professor Murphy

Cuireann sé áthas orm go bhfuil an tUachtarán nua tar éis a chur in iúl cheana féin go dtuigeann sí tábhacht na teanga Gaeilge i saol an náisiúin, rud a chur ionadh ar roinnt daoine.

It is a very good and welcome sign that the President-elect has already indicated her awareness of the importance of the Irish language in the life of the nation. That in turn illustrates her awareness of the rich complexity of this country. I would like to say that this bench of university Senators is particularly pleased at her election. I recall her kindness to me in 1977 when I was first elected here in showing me the ropes. She was then an old hand as it were. We on this bench are particularly pleased and I might suggest that the rest of the House should regard this bench with a new respect. Who knows what further greatness waits to be born — President Norris in 1997?

Mr. Harte

I take particular pride in offering congratulations to Mary Robinson in this House of the Oireachtas. In working with Mary Robinson in the House over a period of 17 years I got to know many of her qualities. It was not until she really went out amongst the public over a very sustained period that the public came to recognise the qualities that a few of us had the privilege of knowing she possessed. In offering congratulations to Mary Robinson I am doing this with over 800,000 people who actually rejoiced in her success. As the months passed by the balance of the people who took part in that election will in fact also have cause to rejoice if they are not already rejoicing.

From my own knowledge of Mary Robinson I am clearly satisfied that she will demonstrate how her actual independence will be the greatest possible evidence of how best the Constitution can be protected. She has also shown that faith in people and a belief in oneself can pull down barriers no matter how high they are erected. To Mary's tenacity, courage and ability I would like to say thanks very much. With regard to her family who stood by her I would like to offer them the thanks of the nation, because they played a role in helping the nation to elect such a President.

With regard to the other two candidates, it was a sad occasion for me that something went wrong. I was very sorry because I was very friendly with Deputy Brian Lenihan. I did not know Deputy Austin Currie that well but I agree with what is being said here. They made a great effort in the campaign. We should take the Taoiseach's advice about putting things aside and forgetting them. He said that on the day Mary Robinson was declared President-elect. I would also like to join with Senator Costello in thanking the outgoing President who was a very fine President and performed the duties of office very capably.

Mr. Ross

I would like to be associated with the words of congratulations which have been expressed by all sides of this House to former Senator Mary Robinson. There is a particular pleasure for these benches in that it shows that any Independent Senator can reach the highest office in this land provided he or she serves 2 years' apprenticeship. Mary Robinson has achieved that and is to be congratulated on doing that. To be realistic, all of us thought what she achieved was impossible six months ago when she launched that campaign. Nobody really gave her a chance and she achieved what appeared to be politically impossible at that time. There is a lesson in it for us all which I hope not only ourselves but the political parties will take, that is that there is a wind of change blowing across Ireland which some in this House and in the other House seem, as a result of recent events, reluctant to accept. It is a matter which we will all have to take into account even though it was a non-political election.

I hope that, in particular, the concern which she has shown for stretching her hands across the Border in a non-political way in meeting people North and South and bringing them together in a non-political way is something which she will follow up and which the Government, the Opposition, and everybody here will give her the greatest assistance with. I would like to agree with those who said it was a healthy election in that we had three very good candidates. I can say without any shame or difficulty that I would have felt very comfortable if any of them had been elected President of this country, and that is a healthy thing for Irish democracy and Irish politics.

Mr. Dardis

I do not wish to be repetitive but I wish to place on the record my delight at the election of Mary Robinson to the Presidency. In addition to the factors that have been mentioned already, that she is relatively young, that she is a woman and indeed that she is also a lady, it should also be noted — and it has not been noted already — that she is about to become our first citizen and the embodiment of our State. In that respect it is appropriate that this House should reaffirm its loyalty to our present first citizen and to one who is to become our first citizen, and thus reaffirm its loyalty to the office of the Presidency.

Mary Robinson conducted an excellent campaign. She won fair and square through an electoral system which has served this country very well over many years. I would also join in the tributes that have been paid to the other candidates. Like Senator Ross I would have been perfectly happy to have seen any of them in Áras an Uachtaráin. We wish Mary Robinson well over the next seven years. I hope that the objectives and aspirations which she has expressed over recent weeks will be fulfilled to the utmost. We can assure her of our loyalty in this House.

Mr. Hanafin

I, too, would like to offer my congratulations to Mrs. Robinson on her election as President. She can be assured as President of this country that she will have our complete support and loyalty. I would also like to congratulate the other candidates on the manner in which they carried out the election. I regret that my own party candidate was not elected but nevertheless I feel that Mrs. Robinson will be a very good President and that she will carry out the duties as required by the Constitution in an excellent fashion.

I would also like to say — I feel I should say this — that of all the three candidates I thought that Austin Currie was magnificent in that each morning, in spite of the fact that he knew the polls were against him, he showed tremendous courage in going out, meeting the interviewers from RTE and the media generally, meeting all the people throughout the country and keeping a bold face on it. His family were equally staunch. He was absolutely excellent and I would personally like to offer my congratulations to him on the courage he displayed.

The Fine Gael Party owe Deputy Currie a lot, and I would like to think that there is a great future for him in politics this side of the Border. For anyone to suggest that people should not vote for him because he was from the North is absolutely ridiculous. He is a first-class Irishman and such a suggestion should not be tolerated. The words of praise I have used in regard to Austin Currie is not taking from Brian Lenihan or Mrs. Robinson. I wanted to say that about him because I was so impressed by his spirit and great courage.