Robert Dowds (Dublin Mid West, Labour)

I would not be that happy about the idea of "The Late Late Show" deciding it wanted to nominate a particular individual.

In general, the current role of the President is about right. It would be wrong for him or her to have more powers that the office has now. I hope our current President, as the two previous Presidents did, will use the office to promote Ireland both culturally and economically abroad and that he will also do what both President Robinson and President McAleese did to great effect, namely, use the office to focus attention on aspects of Irish society which might not otherwise have much focus on them. There is a case for some presidential reform although, broadly speaking, I do not believe the role of the office should change.

I agree with Deputy Murphy regarding section 1 (g) in the explanatory memorandum.

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