Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Review God in the Presidential Oath, candidates say

Three candidates for the Presidency have said that the reference to God in the Presidential Oath of Office in the Constitution should be reviewed. 

Labour's Michael D Higgins, Senator David Norris and Sinn Féin's candidate Martin McGuinness, speaking on RTÉ's Prime Time Presidential debate said that the wording of the oath should be reviewed.  

Responding to a question by presenter Miriam O'Callaghan, as to whether he would have a problem taking the oath as it stood, Mr Higgins said that he wouldn't. He said he was “a spiritual person.”

However, he said that he believed that the wording should be reviewed as part of the Government's proposed Constitutional Convention, “so that the wording might be made more inclusive.”  

In response, Dana Rosemary Scallon said that any changes to the Constitution should be agreed by the people, and accused Labour of trying to secularise the country and the Constitution.

Fine Gael candidate Gay Mitchell said that God was mentioned in various places in the Constitution, but that, “in practice, nobody is going to, I think, object to somebody who is not a believer taking the declaration without the Bible.”

He said, “If I'm elected I will put my hand on the Bible because I happen to be a Christian and if somebody is not of that faith they can do it in a different way.  But unfortunately the requirement is, if you are not a religious person it is still, to uphold the Constitution and the law it is still a requirement that you use those words.”

Senator David Norris said that he believes that the oath needs to be reviewed and that it is important “that people who do not have that grace of belief should not be excluded from any office.”  

Independent candidate Mary Davis said that she is a Christian, but that she believes that the oath “should be inclusive to all religions as well.”

Mr McGuinness said he didn't have any difficulty with the oath being reviewed.

The Oath currently reads:
"In the presence of Almighty God I, (name), do solemnly and sincerely promise and declare that I will maintain the Constitution of Ireland and uphold its laws, that I will fulfil my duties faithfully and conscientiously in accordance with the Constitution and the law, and that I will dedicate my abilities to the service and welfare of the people of Ireland.  May God direct and sustain me."