Sir, – Eamon Ryan presents a vital argument (“We must live in harmony with the natural world”, Opinion & Analysis, March 18th) with which every citizen and every political party should engage. The ongoing destruction of our natural world is at a dangerous point of inflection.
Beyond this evident truth, what is now also at stake is how we make sense of our co-existence. We experience a loss of trust, a foreshortened future.
Young people are disengaging from politics.
To counter these trends, and certain over-simple answers wafted on the breeze from Washington, we need a respectful, inclusive, future-oriented dialogue characterised by care for creation. Hope should be understood “as a way of doing and being”. Faith communities can work alongside other actors whose life stance is not expressed in religious terms.
Look inside: Quaint stone cottage with guest unit at foot of Mayo mountain for €275,000
Matt Williams: Rugby teaches us to be driven, resilient and healthy - and to teach
Flow review: Children will rewatch this piece of outsider art until the pixels wear out
The rise and rise of Kate O’Connor: Ireland’s first world indoor medallist for 19 years
In response to Eamon Ryan’s rounded and compelling vision, the Government should initiate a deliberative process inspired by Article 17, Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union. Article 17 provides for a structured dialogue with churches, faith communities, and philosophical organisations.
It offers a “space of shared projection” (to borrow a term from Jonathan White) in which societal questions are examined in the light of high-level values, with the involvement of many stakeholders, in a medium-term perspective, and without calling into question the day-to-day implementation of current policies. In our own situation, a new space of shared projection would have a shared island dimension. It would focus on social cohesion, looking beyond electoral cycles.
In 2021, during his previous term of office, the Taoiseach launched the Centre for Religion, Human Values, and International Relations at DCU. The centre’s goals are closely aligned with Eamon Ryan’s thinking. We have carried out several multistakeholder projects of engaged research, on topics including the future of Europe, the economics of belonging, global food systems, and the ethics of artificial intelligence. The ecumenical and interfaith bodies would welcome an Article 17-style initiative. Similarly, the friends with whom we work in Brussels would see value in a pathfinding Article 17 initiative at member State level.
Democracy depends on cultural conditions that it cannot itself generate or guarantee. The process proposed here would help to address the cultural challenges identified by Eamon Ryan. It would fit well with the mandate of the National Economic and Social Council. The Oireachtas could play an important role. – Yours, etc,
PHILIP McDONAGH,
Adjunct Professor,
Director,
Centre for Religion, Human Values, and International Relations,
Dublin City University,
Dublin 9.
