The Constitution defines our Duties and Rights as Citizens – we must not allow these to be undermined.

In 2023, an amendment to our Constitution from 1979 was finally passed into law.  This decision by the people of Ireland, was ignored for over 40 years until a UL graduate, successfully brought a case to the Supreme Court; this ensures future senate elections will be more democratic. Does it take a bold stand by an ordinary citizen to have the will of the people respected?

Independent Senator Gerard Craughwell has recently been allowed to proceed with his Supreme Court challenge. This relates to a government arrangement with a foreign state taken without presenting its terms to the Dáil as the constitution demands. Alarm bells should be ringing!

In recent years Trinity College Dublin has tried to block scholarship on our finest treasures, such as the Book of Kells. This contradicts the first Article of our constitution, asserting the right of the Irish nation to develop its cultural life ‘in accordance with its own genius and traditions.’ The college also censors the publication of research on these treasures, blatantly subverting the ‘right of citizens to express freely their convictions and opinions,’ as specified in Article 40.

In 2022, Tánaiste Simon Harris addressed issues relating to third-level institutions. He failed in his efforts to assert some control over the governance of Trinity College. Taxpayers pour millions into the college, but it is not answerable to the State. Accountability and transparency are cornerstones of our democracy and must apply to all institutions.

On taking office the President promises ‘to maintain the Constitution of Ireland’ – I will develop a range of initiatives to achieve these aims.
I will work to establish a forum for Constitutional issues. As Patron of this forum, I will encourage contributions from across society. This will echo aspects of the short-term Constitutional Convention (2012-14) and the Citizen’s Assembly (2016-17) convened for referendums in 2015 and 2018.
This forum will also consider issues of importance for the overall health of our Democracy and its institutions. As a motto for this forum, I propose: ‘Eternal Vigilance is the Price of Liberty’

Developing greater awareness and appreciation of the Constitution in our communities will be a key part of my Presidency. A particular focus will be reaching out to young citizens in our schools and colleges. I hope much of this will be achieved through creative celebration and artistic expression

The issues raised here highlight just a few examples of areas in our lives, and our governance which must be kept under constant scrutiny. I will work to give leadership in being vigilant and guarding our Constitution and Democracy.

… and more broadly, rekindle the spirit of earlier cooperative societies, as we strive to empower ourselves to address the pressing issues of our times.

We must never take our eye off the ball – in the words of Irish patriot John Philpott Curran: Eternal Vigilance is the Price of Liberty.

– this is the very heart of my mission.