Sir, - Bono has been quoted as saying that Adi Roche would continue Mary Robinson's example by highlighting obvious wrongs. This is unfair to Mary Robinson, who rose to prominence in Irish society by fighting the cause of personal freedom against a powerful Church. There was nothing "obvious" about the wrongs she attempted to right in the Ireland of the 1970s and 1980s.
Adi Roche, on the other hand, has worked on the after-effects of a nuclear disaster. There is nobody for nuclear disasters. That is why her work is charitable and non-political. Politics is about mediating conflict, about righting wrongs that are not accepted as wrongs by everyone. Left-wing politics is about making people aware of what is wrong in society and mobilising support to right these wrongs by political action. Dick Spring may steal a presidential election for Labour by nominating Adi Roche but it will not advance the objectives of the Labour Party. Pandering to populist gripes about politics may win transitory points in opinion polls but it is a self-defeating activity for a left-wing party. Leftwing politics depends on convincing voters that politics matters, that political action does improve society and that not all politicians are alike . Dick Spring chose a "nice", non-political candidate. Is it any wonder then that the campaign for the highest office in the land has degenerated into a debate on just how nice she is? - Yours, etc.,
Ferndale Road, Dublin 11.