Fine Gael presidential candidate Gay Mitchell today defended the European Union’s role in Ireland’s affairs following eurosceptic comments made this week by potential fellow Áras candidate Gay Byrne.
Earlier this week, the former Late Late Show host expressed concerns about the development of the EU, saying Ireland was being run by "mad people" in Brussels.
"I think they are mad to some extent," Mr Mitchell said during an interview on RTÉ's Today with Pat Kenny radio show this morning.
“When we entered the European Union our income per head of population was 56 per cent of the then EU average, and they gave us a lot of their money to build up our economy,” Mr Mitchell said. “Some people might think that that’s mad."
Mr Mitchell said he would draw upon his experience as an elected representative to encourage recovery by promoting a framework based on what he describes as the four pillars of enterprise, social justice, rights, and responsibilities.
Mr Mitchell said he wants to challenge what he described as “the current environment of political correctness” but wanted an inclusive society.
“You can’t be a little bit pregnant – you’re either pregnant or you’re not pregnant. You can’t be a little bit inclusive - you have to be fully inclusive. I think we have to learn to respect each other on this island,” he said.
Dismissing his poor showing in recent opinion polls, Mr Mitchell said polls do not reflect the final result.
“I wouldn’t go to the bank and take a mortgage out based on any polls," he said. “People are not engaged with this election. When the real election comes, people will engage. And, as happened in every other presidential election, these polls will wax and wane, and we will do far better.”
Mr Mitchell was confident of attracting votes outside of the capital, saying it would be “relatively easier” than in Dublin as people there “tend to be more loyal to certain political strains".
“I think I will pull the vote outside of Dublin. I think a lot of Fianna Fáil people, for example, might want to give me their second preference." However, Mr Mitchell said he wanted to be a candidate "for all the people.”
“I am in this race because I really want to step up to the plate and to help our country recover at a time when we have great difficulty.”
Asked whether he had the full support of the Fine Gael leadership, Mr Mitchell said Enda Kenny has been “personally supportive”.
He also defended a letter he wrote to the governor of Florida in 2003 asking him to take a convicted murderer off death row. Paul Hill was convicted of the murder of two people outside an abortion clinic in 1994. The letter has become the focus of debate following the David Norris controversy.
Mr Mitchell defended his actions, saying he has "constantly campaigned against the death penalty" and adding it was his belief that putting people to death was "barbaric". He also said he would be "absolutely shocked" if Labour Party candidate Micheal D Higgins would not do the same.
Mr Mitchell refused to be drawn on the matter of gay marriage other than saying that he did not want to do anything to "weaken marriage". He said he supported civil partnership but wanted the country should take time to assess the impact of civil partnership.
"Lets see how it works out and see where we go from here," he said.
