Michael D. Higgins said at his inauguration last November that he wanted his Presidency to be as inclusive as possible, and duly delivered on Friday May 25 by launching Being Young And Irish 2012 – the first of seven annual seminars he’ll be conducting during his term in the Phoenix Park.
“It was going to be called Being Young In Ireland, but the name was changed in recognition of all the people who’ve been forced to leave the country and have an especially good reason to want to participate in this process,” Michael D. revealed at the Áras an Uachtaráin launch, which was attended by hundreds of schoolchildren and yours truly — who’s neither young nor Irish, but hey!
“I’m well aware that life at the moment is difficult for many people,” he continued. “I’m aware of the sadness, disappointment and difficulties that flow from unemployment and emigration, the impact on so many lives of intolerance and discrimination, of mental health issues and of suicide, and am aware of the pressure on services in responding to those needs. I realise this is affecting you, your friends, your family and your community.”
Quoting what Einstein had to say – “You can’t fix a problem with the same mindset that created it” – the President wants to hear “the experiences of being young and Irish, the challenges and fears, hopes and visions, and the solutions for transforming Ireland.”
During the consultation period which runs up until September 29, people aged 17-26 are invited to contribute practical ideas and make suggestions for the improvement of Irish society through an online process and/or the regional face-to-face seminars, details of which will be announced shortly at www.president.ie.
Submissions can be made in narrative form, through song, film, sign language, or any other relevant medium.
Talking after the launch to Hot Press, Michael D. acknowledged that whilst his consitutional position prevents the findings from being presented as a political manifesto, they’ll be far from toothless.
“This is a Presidency of ideas, not abstract intellectual reflections,” he states. “There’s nothing to stop me talking about poverty or unemployment, issues that go beyond a particular government’s term and threaten the future. When published, the report will be sent to the places where it might have the greatest effect – government departments, Dáil working groups, agencies involved in training and innovation. Politicians vote on bills, but a great deal of what happens is decided by those who are shaping decisions. The points of advocacy early on are very, very important.”
It is a crucial insight – and this is a powerful initiative. Watch this space...