Sir, - I have never met John Hume. I saw him once in a Dublin hotel. It takes little effort to admire his courage and commitment to brokering peace. He is clever, shrewed, articulate, well connected, the professional politician. At times he is partisan and tetchy. For many reasons he seems readymade presidential material. Skilled in debate, clear in judgment, public spirited, well liked nationally and internationally. Apparently an ideal figure for the Park, "the man" for President.
But while we speak of the President of Ireland, we all know that de facto our Head of State presides over the part of the island we affectionately call the Republic. Therefore, it is logical to look for a presidential candidate from among the citizens of this State. Can the Celtic Tiger not deliver someone groomed and nurtured to become our First Citizen? There is something natural and straightforward about that approach. Why look beyond when there is plenty of talent on hand?
Southern politicians are bending over backwards to present a flowery consensus to the electorate. This needs to be taken apart and seen for what it is, a crafty collusion cooked up to impress all and sundry. The political canonisation of John Hume down here is one of the most extravagant and risky tendencies of our time. How can elected members of Dail Eireann, who are on record as saying that they wish to relate to all the people in Northern Ireland, back the selection of an "agreed" candidate who has consistently represented nationalist opinion in Ireland, Britain and North America? Mr Hume has made many overtures to the Unionists, but they are hardly likely to fall in love with the idea of him being parked in the Park without even being elected by the people of the Republic.
The recent ceasefire has opened the way for the start of the long and tortuous journey towards the rebuilding of community relationships in the North. It is far too early to pluck even a respected and democratically elected nationalist leader out of that theatre of confusion and make him our Head of State. We should make no mistake, the Unionist antenna is out. Lining up John Hume for the Aras is sending all the wrong signals. The timing is ill-judged. The motives are questionable. The consequences will be unpalatable.
The people need to speak up. The politicians need to think straight. Let Southern respect and affection for John Hume remain intact. He has unfinished business on hand. Our attention should not be diverted from selecting and electing a President from within our State. Such a strategy will honour the monumental work done by President Robinson and lead us into the third Millennium politically politically mature and ready to build on the foundation laid by our First Lady who, more than anyone else, released the Phoenix Park. - Yours, etc.,
Rev Robert Dunlop,
Brannockstown, Co Kildare.