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Once again it seems that Ireland has two foreign policies. In the diplomatic not heard across the world or at least across parts of the Middle East President Michael D Higgins congratulated the newly appointed president of Iran and commiserated with him and regarding the “tragic accident” which caused the death of his predecessor.
It was perhaps not the simple fact of the letter which provoked the heated response from some sectors as much as the language employed.
“Stability and co-operation, and the peaceful resolving of disputes, have never been more important across the whole Middle East region. Iran with its long tradition of culture will play a crucial role in acheiving this. I look forward to our two countries continuing to maintain ever-deeper dialogue and co-operation, as exhibited by recent Political Consultations between our two Foreign Ministries, held in Dublin……….With my very best wished for your endeavours, your hopes and all the challenges we face at this difficult time as we struggle for peace….”
The last line in particular feels almost like an act of trolling considering as that in the words of the Brookings Institute “Iran’s regime sees itself as a regional and even a world power, and working with terrorists is a way for Iran to influence events far from its borders. Iran’s support for the Lebanese Hizballah, Palestine Islamic Jihad, and Hamas make Iran a player in the Israeli-Palestinian and Israeli-Arab disputes, and Iran’s backing of Houthis in Yemen give it influence on Saudi Arabia’s southern border”
For some there was a more specific and personal objection. The President of Ireland is also the Supreme Commander of the Irish Defence Forces. On December 14th 2022 Pvt Sean Rooney from Newtown Cunningham was killed by a group connected to Hezbollah the Iran back terror group operating in Lebanon. Pvt Rooney was 24 years old. Ireland has contributed to the UNIFIL peacekeeping force in south Lebanon for many years but with the threat of conflict between Israel and Iran’s terror proxies escalating some are questioning the wisdom or usefulness of the Irish Lebanese presence.
Poet Intellectual and Socialist advocate for the down trodden this is not the first time that Michael D Higgins has expressed solidarity with personalities that on the whole the government would really rather he had not. Fidel Castro was “a giant among global leaders whose view was not only one of freedom for his people but for all of the oppressed and excluded peoples on the planet”. On another sad occasion he said “President Chavez achieved a great deal during his term in office, particularly in the area of social development and poverty reduction….I extend my sincere condolences to the family of President Chavez on their great loss. My thoughts and best wishes are also with the people of Venezuela as they come to terms with this sad news.” Yet the government said nothing.
This time however there was a certain historic resonance to the note that many people in Ireland were alert to and most certainly many in Leinster House. On May 3rd 1945 the then President of Ireland Douglas Hyde on instructions of the Taoiseach Eamonn DeValera travelled out to Dun Laoghaire to the residence of Eduard Hempel the head of the German diplomatic mission in order to convey the governments condolences on the death the previous day of Herr Hitler. Justifying the act later DeValera said to refuse condolences “would have been an act of unpardonable discourtesy to the German nation and to Dr Hempel. During the whole of the war, Dr Hempel’s conduct was irreproachable. … I certainly was not going to add to his humiliation in the hour of defeat.”
DeValera is certainly a highly polarising figure in Irish politics but it is hard to argue but that he is the single most consequential figure in the hundred years of the state’s existence however at today to the extent he is remembered for anything it is the Constitution and the letter to the German Ambassador. Perhaps it is with an eye to history that on this occasion Simon Harris has chosen to publicly put clear blue water between himself and Higgins. The letter was not he tells us representative of government policy and “We have fundamental differences with Iran, and I’ll always continue to call out their human rights abuses” Well that is good to know.
None of this need have happened if the Government had done its job and made clear from the get go what the limits were to the function of the presidency. Higgins has from the beginning gone far beyond what the constitution and custom see as the proper role of the president. He has been personally popular with the people and faced a docile unquestioning press. The first non Fianna Fail president elected was Mary Robinson in 1990 and there was an undoubtedly tense relationship between the Aras and the government. For the first two years every word and act scrutinised and controlled by the Taoiseach’s office but it probably was quite necessary as Mrs Robinson displayed during and particularly after her term concluded, a deep respect for the office and its role which the present occupant clearly lacks. He will leave the Presidency transformed from the being the defender of the constitution standing above the fray, disinterested and impartial to just another political office and the President just another politician.