Presidential Election.

You said

There ain't just one baddie. Who gains most from scaring us and selling us arms? Follow the money.

Clearly a dig at the big bad US, right? But most of the European investment in rearmament will go to European firms. This has already been stated as an explicit policy goal, and makes perfect sense. The US is no longer a fully trustworthy ally.

If European countries are scared it's with very good reason. There's one man responsible for that though, and he's not American.

This had the shelf life of a head of Lettuce:

Ladies and gentlemen, colleagues, friends, thank you for joining us this morning for the official launch of the campaign to elect Ireland’s next president, Jim Gavin.

Today is about another person who has dedicated their life to service; whose professional and personal choices throughout his adult life have been about making the country safer, communities stronger and our shared national experience more joyful and enriching.

I am talking of course about the man who I hope and believe will be our next, our tenth, Uachtarán na h’Éireann, Jim Gavin.

Over the past few months, I have taken, and valued, the opportunity to really get to know Jim Gavin.

His is an extraordinary story. Joining our Defence Forces at just 18, he went on to serve in uniform with distinction for 20 years, achieving the rank of Commandant.

During that time, he was deployed to some of the most dangerous conflict zones in the world, including as Chief of Military Aviation with the UN Mission in the Central African Republic and Chad, where he commanded personnel from more than 20 countries.

For context, that mission remains the largest civil protection operation of the 21st century.

 When leaving the military, he marshalled those decades of experience in the national interest within the Irish Aviation Authority.

 He rose to achieve the position of Chief Operations Officer and now leads a team responsible for maintaining the safety of Irish skies, drafting legislation and working with international partners.

 I know for certain that Jim would insist it was his team and not him, but the fact is, that his leadership has helped position Ireland as a global standard-setter in aviation safety.

 And those were just the day jobs!

 Jim is well known for his love of community and his commitment to volunteering – two of the reasons why the Government of Ireland asked him to lead on a particularly important initiative, the North-East Inner-City Taskforce.

 In that role he has been relentless in his dedication and hard work, interacting with agencies across and outside government to deliver for communities facing real challenges.

And along the way of course, he also found time to forge his legacy as the most successful manager, and possibly the most radical innovator, in the history of one of our country’s most significant and most successful national cultural or sporting institution, the GAA.

 Through that work, he has engaged, competed, celebrated, commiserated, but most importantly connected with communities in cities, towns and villages in all 32 counties of our shared island.

 And he has done all this, and more, with a quiet and self-effacing grace, humour and determination.

 Which brings me back to the months I spent over the summer getting to know Jim.

 In addition to this unique and impressive life story, what became very clear to me was the depth and clarity of his understanding of what being President means.

 He understands that at its best, the role of President is that of a unifier — someone with the connection, vision and experience to bring people together at home and to represent us with pride and authority on the world stage, engaging with other world leaders and connecting an Irish diaspora that spans the entire globe.  

 Our First Citizen, the Commander in Chief of our Defence Forces, our President should be someone who embodies what our nation does best and is steeped in the values of our communities and our country.

 Our next president should be someone who loves the country, understands our place in the world, is committed to the multilateral structures that have underpinned our progress and our success, and someone who we know will never drop the ball.

 Our next president should be Jim Gavin.

 I know that Jim has thought deeply and seriously about his decision to offer himself to the country for this next act of service.

 He does so now with the love and support of his wife, his rock, Jennifer, his son Jude and daughter Jasmine.

 He does so with the united and determined support of the Fianna Fáil organisation across the country.

And he does so with much more than that. Because I believe that the Irish people understand the value of the Presidency not being about narrow party political or ideological advantage.

 All across the country many people have already seen what Jim Gavin is about – love of family, community and country, dedication to a shared cause, and proven leadership.

 The job for Jim and for all of us now is to bring that message to everyone who will make this important decision on 24th October.

 Jim has already demonstrated his trademark focus and discipline in pursuit of the task, speaking to many thousands of people at the national ploughing championship and having already toured 15 constituencies in the few short weeks since his selection as the Fianna Fáil candidate.

 We will fight an energetic and positive campaign,

focussing on the actual role and importance of the office,

and confident in the knowledge that we have a candidate with the temperament, the skills, the energy, the personal and professional experience,

as well as the vision to be a President that the whole country can be proud of.

 And now, it is my privilege and honour to welcome to the stage that person, Jim Gavin.

Tags: Micheál Martin