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IT SEEMS APT that One Direction are on board, because we only need to go one direction – and that’s towards a better world for everyone!
This year something quite spectacular is happening. There are some key decisions being made during 2015 which will impact on all our futures, and on the future of humanity itself.
Right now world leaders are in Addis Ababa in Ethiopia to agree how we are going to pay for a better world – how we will finance that development. Another summit in New York in September this year will determine how we will achieve such a world – with less poverty, more equality and equal opportunities for all. It will set out 17 global goals – a challenge to us all, all over the world – a roadmap to the kind of world we all dream of.
But we can no longer separate ourselves from the sustainability of the planet that we live on – so in Paris in December, another summit will take place to decide how we will tackle climate change, the effects of which are undeniably all around us. These are important decisions. President Michael D. Higgins has therefore said that ‘2015 is on a par with 1945 in terms of the potential that it has to reshape how humanity deals with the challenges we face.’
We are at a critical moment in world history; facing a series of tests and choices that will determine not only the fate of millions of our fellow global citizens now, but tests and choices that will define the future of our planet.
The time is now. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon also put it up to us when he was in Dublin Castle recently when he said, “I believe we are the last generation that can change this climate change impact… and the first generation that can put an end to poverty.” He commended the small island of Ireland for its tremendous contribution so far, saying: “Ireland’s imprint has been huge and historic, well out of proportion to the country’s size and your population,” but he challenged the people of Ireland to go further, in the fight against poverty and climate change.
So – no pressure but there’s a lot riding on this generation. The good news? We’re halfway there already. It IS possible to change the world, but only if we act now. This is about action.
If 2005 was about ‘make poverty history’ this year is about ‘action’- Action2015. And all over Ireland during the European Year for Development 2015, people are taking action. People are campaigning for a better world, they’re getting involved, they’re getting informed, standing up for what they believe in. Even One Direction, the popular boyband who need no introduction, have now come on board as part of the Action 2015 campaign, encouraging young people all over the world to get involved in the fight against poverty and injustice, and to get involved in these global goals. This is a once in a lifetime moment.
We all dream of a better world – a world where no one goes to bed hungry, where boys and girls can go to school and reach their potential, and where people can live safely and happily. But, the question remains, how will we pay for it?
And that is why this week I will be with two of my colleagues, Lorna Gold from Trócaire and Sorley McCaughey from Christian Aid Ireland, in Addis Ababa. Because this matters.
So here’s three things you need to know about Addis and why it matters:
1. It’s about funding our future
No one knows what the future may bring, but we have to dream the best reality for humanity. We have to fight for the best it can be. And in order to do that, we need to invest in that future.
This summit in Addis Ababa is the third international conference where world leaders look specifically at how to finance the global goals, to build a better and safer world. The first such meeting took place in Monterrey in Mexico, in 2002, and marked the first global agreement on countries’ responsibilities to work together on issues of trade, aid and debt relief. That conference gave rise to the “Make Poverty History” campaign and was responsible for an unprecedented increase in the amount of overseas aid that rich countries provide to developing countries.
The second summit took place in Doha, Qatar, in 2008 and it emphasised that aid alone cannot end extreme poverty and that developing countries need help in building up a sustainable tax basis, too.
The third summit, taking place in Addis Ababa in Ethiopia, is meant to gauge whether countries have lived up to the commitments they made in Monterrey and Doha and to consider how the emerging new agreement on global development can best be financed. It all hinges on this. So what will Ireland’s report card be?
2. It’s working–we could be the generation to eradicate extreme poverty by 2030 and Ireland has a big role to play
Did you know that extreme poverty has been halved in the last 15 years? That 91% of children are now enrolled in primary school? That we are making great strides in the fight against disease? This was the world’s report card from the UN this week on the success of the Millennium Development Goals. This is an incredible achievement, and one that Ireland has played a big part in.
Though so much has been achieved, there is still some way to go. People are still living in poverty. The world is full of injustices and we need to work together to make sure no one gets left behind. It is our moral duty as global citizens to ensure that every man, woman, and child, no matter where they live in the world, can have hope, can hope to lead a healthy and happy life.
So far, Ireland has been at the forefront of international efforts to come up with this radical, new agenda for the world. The negotiations at the UN have been led by Ireland and Kenya, and Irish diplomats have for many years now corralled and gathered political support for the new global plan for the future. This process has meant the world will now have a plan for the future – we have 17 global goals – the sustainable development goals – which we will all work towards to see if we really can be the generation to eradicate extreme poverty.
3. It’s about promises
‘Have you ever broken a promise? How did it make you feel? How did it make the other person feel? Why is it important to keep promises?’ these are just some of the questions asked in a recent Trocaire video where they stopped people on the street to talk about the importance of promises.
You can see that video here.
The reason this conference is all about promises, is that unfortunately, Ireland hasn’t kept its promise. A few years ago Ireland, along with many other countries, promised to commit 0.7% of its national income to overseas aid. Right now, Ireland is still falling far below that commitment. We are now just at 0.39% of our GNP in terms of overseas aid.
So we need to work to keep that promise – to work towards achieving the 0.7% target and playing our part completely, so that we can hold our heads high, and know that we did the right thing when our time came. Ireland has done so much to be proud of and contributed so much, but we cannot stop now.
This is about action. It’s about now. It’s about looking back on the year that changed everything. The year that was 2015.
Hans Zomer is Director of Dóchas, the Irish national platform of Development NGOs. Through Dóchas, Irish NGOs work together to improve the impact of their work, and to apply their collective experiences to inform government policy and practice.
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Michael D returned the Presidency to it’s former role of a retirement home for politicians.
Time for someone fresh to represent Ireland.
@Ronan McKeon: Or to scrap the office entirely
@Tony Le Blanc:
along with the Seanad
@The Quare Fella: well said
@Tony Le Blanc: And make Leo head of State, eh no thanks.
@Tony Le Blanc: god another referendum
@Tony Le Blanc: it still has its place in Ireland. The power to get the Supreme Court decide on the constitutionality of a bill before they sign it has proved it’s worth in the past.
@Ronan McKeon: The role of the Irish president is that of an ambassador. He has done that excellently.
@The Quare Fella: Yesthe two are only for politicians who lost their seats and serve no useful purpose
Norris is correct. Michael D is energetic and effective now but he is unlikely to remain productive into his 80s. Tax payers deserve someone in the role who will give value for money.
The Aras shouldn’t become the most expensive nursing home for retired politicians.
@Des Groome:
So we have to pay him a pension and someone else a salary? Let him stop there, cheaper.
@Des Groome: You would prefer a young politician in that particular nursing home with 60 years of a huge pension ahead of him or her?
@Larry Doyle: Why are we all so hung up on politicians pensions and water charges? We bailed out unsecured bond holders for 100s of billions! Thats the problem here. I guess its just easier for the lazy to quote salaries and pensions. Drop in the ocean. Get over it.
@Larry Fitzwell: Because as well as paying the bond holders, we’re paying huge pensions to the many who failed us as politicians….
@Des Groome: value for money ?? please explain
@P.J. Nolan: It should be done away with,it is costing too much to run it,what is its purpose other than running around the world while there are children living in hotel rooms,It would make a great hospital if you could get nurses to staff it
@James Mc Loughlin:
BTW it would make an incredibly bad hospital, converting old buildings like that to modern state of the art hospital costs many many times more than building a hospital from scratch.
@Paul Linehan: Off ya go Paul. No qualifications need to be elected to office. Sounds like you could qualify.
@Larry Fitzwell: Ridiculous point Larry. It’s very easy for politicians to make questionable decisions when their own financial well being is protected for life. Why should Bertie Ahern care if the economy melts down? He’s going to be on 150k a year forever.
Prudent decision making becomes a lot more important when it’s your own financial future at stake. Which is why politicians should face having their pensions stripped from them if they bankrupt the state.
Norris is backing Olivia O’Leary for president, in fairness what has she ever done for Ireland except collect a paycheck at our expense along with the rest of the golden circle that is RTÉ……
@Sean Higgins: So who’s your choice?
@Jack Jackson: Jack if you want the job it’s yours…….
@Sean Higgins:
Whatever about Higgins, Norris has an ambivalence towards paedophilia and the British empire.
Olivia O’Leary is chairwoman of the golden circle.
She’s an elitist through and through.
With no connection to even a few everyday Irish people.
She’s like an older version of Miriam ‘Genuinely’ O’ Callaghan.
I would not like to see micky d get a second term without a vote, but also would not like to see the like of Norris get it either due to his shady dealings in the past.
He should be reminded of that before critizing others.
@Simon Miller: Yes and the article in Mcgill about “something to be said for classic paedophilia”
Twisted sick individual.
@Trevor Hayden: yes …. somehow he is still deemed fit to be a senator… after writing that letter in Senate headed paper.
@Rosemarie F Martin: So it’s perfectly OK to protect a paedophile, the church has really gotten to you with their fairytales of fire and brimstone.
I can honestly say if anyone got to one of my children, nephews, nieces I’d do life for them but each to their own and all that palaver.
@Rosemarie F Martin: the boy was 15 not 17.
@Simon Miller: Don’t you mean Pedarast? There’s a difference between a sexual attraction for underage teenage boys and kids; apparently.
RTE archives have an audio recording of his drunken admission.
Gary Glitter would relate.
Yes, Totally agree. He was a successful president but now is the time to step aside and get his bucket list in order and pass the shovel over to someone else. No trailer at end of hearse or pockets in the shrouds.
@C_O’S: He said seven years and Norris is right 85 is too old for a President. Time to get someone in with a bit of youth and drive and can offer a counter balance to all the power that sits in the Dail. President Higgins has completed what he said he would do time to move on and get someone in that will make something of this office. If he makes a liar of himself and takes the office for another seven years he does irreparable damage to an office that is meant to serve a purpose.
Obviously he likes the trappings I agree with David Norris completely it makes a mockery of the office
Somebody put Maurice mc cabe name forward be good to have an honest man as figure head of our country instead of retired corrupt politicians
@dave mc nevin: didn’t O Higgins find that he made unsubstantiated and unfounded allegations of corruption against other Gardaí…nice words that actually mean LIED.
Michael D is a great ambassador for the country and anyone who has met him will vouch for him as a great man. I think he should continue until he sees fit.
Speculating about the potential health risks of continuing in the job is just that-speculation-and a poorly reasoned argument for Michael D stepping down.
@EK: Agreed. He’s been a great representative and I see no reason why he should step down. If his age catches up with him, he can step aside.
Norris is a little sore as he knows if Micky D goes for another term, Norris himself will never get a shot at the presidency.
David Norris again proving why he wouldn’t have been a good choice for President. I’ve no problem with people giving out about the fact that Higgins said he wouldn’t go for second term but, this tasteless nonsense about what age he would be x number of in years…..? If his mind is good and he wants to continue…..his age shouldn’t preclude him or anyone.
Michael D has been a great president for our country much like Mary Robinson but he did say he wouldn’t seek re-election if he won. Time to be a man of his word & hand the keys to the Aras to a suitable candidate. BUT WHO?? NOT BERTIE THE BO**OKS
I told him if I wasn’t running myself I’d be out on bus canvassing for you, that’s how highly I felt about him, but it didn’t stop me.
The irony of these comments,apart from his recommendation of Michael D,. it is OK to discriminate on grounds of age, for an individual who fought discrimination all his life, a most peculiar stance.
Anyone but Norris! Oh wait Bertie? No thank you, anyone except Norris or Bertie.
Better a good 84 year old than an indifferent 40 year old.
Because the President will not be drawing his pensions during the Presidency, using him actually saves a lot in ongoing pension payments, looking at the matter in cold financial terms.
I remover some years ago a company recruiting a 35 year old ahead of a 53 year old who was in the job and performing well. The 53 year old was “retired off”. His 35 year old replacement was competent but not experienced enough. He developed MND. His position had to be kept open. The logistics function collapsed and triggered an Examinership. Life is uncertain. The Presidency does not require a youthful incumbent.
Very concerning to see FF, FG and Labour conspiring to try and deny the public a democratic vote. Even if Michael D is doing a great job he ran last on the basis of staying for a single term and his broken promise combined with his age in a 7 year position are relevant reasons for people to change their mind.
Why do our proven grossly incompetent politicians have so much control on who gets to be a presidential candidate. They’ve made a farce of our political system with their carry on, can’t we just have someone in the aras that is non political instead of having it as a reward for one of our useless gombeen politicians.
Norris isn’t far behind him and makes f all sense when he opens his far mouth. MDH is up to it.
It’s not about his age. It’s about the fact that he said right from the start that he was only interested in one term. He’s obviously become overly fond of the fancy house and the free food.
He is right, should be someone younger
I have a respectable candidate MEP Lynn Boylan (Sinn Fein) wife of current TD Eoin O’Broin (Sinn Fein) politicians of the people.
@Brían Ó Cionnaith: A misandrist feminist bigot who wants to indoctrinate young boys in primary school with feminist propaganda telling them that because they are born male they fundamentally flawed.
I voted for him I stood by him when rte allow the age gaffe to be broad cast making the report to have reason put in place . at 77 I will not vote for him for he will be in him 80s in the term and the time to retire is now make a stand Mr President retire .people need a younger person.
Presidency and seanad should be abolished absolute waste of money
@Rosemarie F Martin: good point rosemarie maybe limit it to a single five year term michael d should stick to what he said when he stood for election then people might not b so cynical about politicians
If he had worked all his life like the majority of men he would be happy to retire.
It’s time to scrap this position anyway, a president in Ireland has very little clout anyway and all he’s really done is sign us into austerity while he lives in the lap of luxury at our expense. All it is is yet another plum job for politicians and their well connected friends. We can least afford such extravagance while the country’s in debt for generations.
Churchill was 70 when Nazi Germany fell…
@Fabio Dillon: So younger than Michael D was when he assumed office? Also, it’s hardly like Churchill single handed was the one who defeated them….FDR and Stalin were also massive contributors.
@Michael Allen: he wasn’t an alcoholic, he was just fond of a good drink
This office should either scraped or open to ANY Irish Citizen that wants to run for the Aras rather than those chosen by Norris or the other Senead Dail Mafia tossers .
The 7 year term is the real issue. If he runs again, we’ll have had just 3 presidents in 35 years since Mary Robinson was elected.
14 years is far too long
@Paddy Downey: Seven years is OK but it should be restricted to one term.
@Paddy Downey: Yes 4 years should be enough,and only one term in office
What age is Norris?
Seems to be a no brainer. Michael D should run for office, if he wants to, and other candidates do not hesitate to step up to offer to have a go … and let the public vote decide. That’s being a Republic, it seems.
BBB – Bring Back Bertie!
BBB – Bring Back Bertie!
BBB – Bring Back Bertie!
Shout it on the streets, on the streets I tell you.
This coming from a Man..who take a lot of nonsense but really says nothing of note..
Simple:
We should vote for a President and a Sub – could sit in a dugout outside the Arus ready to continue seamless play!
Where were they when we needed them before the crash ? Scrap presidency, scrap seanad. (Even if it saves a euro, I want those rooms back)
Would be be very intresting to see who would run if MD did not want another seven bells. All kinds of everything I suspect even a snowflake or two.
Ok, so President Higgins feels he’s up to his Constitutional Responsibilities to the job of being President of the Republic of Ireland for another 7 years, despite his age. I have a big “but” on that.
That’s proof enough that he a theatrical politician and his somewhat equally-aged theatrical actress wife are enjoying life being pampered in Áras an Úachtaráin, travelling 1st-class around the world every time, entertaining foreign dignatories or whosoever they personally choose to be partying with in the Gardens, all paid for by us taxpayers.
The “but” I have on Mr Higgins (I never respect him as ‘President’ Higgins, never considered him a potential or existing worthwhile President of my country, never trusted him in his past as a Labour Party politician), is that he is the epitome of Leprechaun politics (no pun intended)… the kind of Politics that our present Political Parties are playing against us Irish “wee” people in trying to foist him upon us once again.
Not once has has he exercised his Constitutional duty to challenge any law passed by the Oireachtas or referred it back for appropriate consideration by people more responsibly sensible than him or his influencing actress wife, during his tenure of Ireland’s Presidential Office. There are some laws he could have exercised his duties of office on in his time so far… but choose not to “rock the boat” on.
Let truth be told. You’d be afraid what other new laws he wouldn’t challenge as President in a tax-paid comfortable job and handmaid-servant mansion house.
He has not done his job, like Presidents Douglas Hyde, Cearbhall O’Dálaigh or even as Eamonn de Valera did, with all their honesty for our Republic’s best interests.
Time for a change of President. We need someone like Cearbhall O’Dálaigh, a man who executed the functions of a President of Ireland with impeccable honesty to challenge a discrepant, inconsistent Dail Éireann’s ignominous imposition of an unjustifiable law on our country’s citizens.
Out with hangers-on people like Higgins and “Cringer” Norris. Let them earn their own independent livelihood instead of bleeding off taxpayers in their old age.
New blood, new responsible thinking, please.
Norris is just a bitter old man,he was found out writing letters as senator to have Ezra released from jail in Israel
Norris is a bitter old fart,he was forced out of race cos he wrote letters as senator to have Ezra released from jail
@C_O’ S Why not.? Fourteen years is far to long anyhow plus the fact MD said he would not seek a second term.
Get rid maybe Chuck Norris in no play on name BTW. Then we can have a Gay President & Taoiseach all will be dandy!!
Forget ageism. Big problem is with him comes the ubiquitous Sabina.
I know its a BIG ask, but would Vicky Phelan do us the honor of becoming OUR PRESEDENT, What a GREAT WOMAN. She has done more for the women of Ireland in 4 Months, than most of our T.D. would do in their life time. I think that would help Michael D. make up his mind very quickly. She should have no problem getting a nomination and cross party support. GO VICKY, GO!
@Matthew Roche: Regretfully, not a chance for Vicky because the austere duties of the Office of President of Ireland require a huge understanding of legal rigmarole before s/he is eligible for the duties of that office.
The qualifications for the position of the Office of President of Ireland are based in law, not based on any political, religious or public popularism kind.
have your say