EXCLUSIVE: The former TD and Minister has defended his right to speak out on political issues as President, such as the ongoing war in Gaza, saying that “foreign policy belongs to us all”.
A defiant President Michael D Higgins has hit back at his critics and vowed that he will not be a “silent” President in office. The former TD and Minister has defended his right to speak out on political issues as President, such as the ongoing war in Gaza, saying that “foreign policy belongs to us all”.
He added that he is not a “puppet” President who “simply takes pieces of paper in front of him or her and deals with them”. READ MORE - Brutal terrorist attacks could soon take place on the streets of Ireland says top security expert And the President went further, saying that he feels it is his “responsibility” to reflect “the will of the people who put me in Aras an Uachtarain” who he said regularly write to him expressing their views on issues like foreign affairs, poverty, migration and climate change. The frequently outspoken President said that he would not be silenced by anyone, because the public who voted him in would not expect him to hold his tongue on matters he has been vocal on in the past. The President made his comments to the Irish Sunday Mirror straight after delivering the keynote address at the closing of the World Food Forum from the UN’s FAO HQ in Rome on Friday. President Higgins was speaking after Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said in an interview on Newstalk during the week that “foreign policy is a matter for Government…… and we are the ones who will articulate that”. It has reopened again the age-old argument about the powers of the President and whether he or she should stay away from commenting on and should stay above politics. The President hit the international headlines last Monday when he criticised EU President Ursula von der Leyen for what he perceived as one-sided comments supporting Israel. He was criticised in some quarters for acting outside the constitutional remit of his Office, as set out in Articles 13 and 14 of the Constitution. President Higgins believes that the debate about the limits that should be put on a President speaking his mind is one that is worth debating, adding that he is not a “puppet” President.“As far back as 1982 when I proposed establishing a foreign affairs committee, it was voted down, it was some years later until people accepted the existence of a foreign affairs committee.“Here’s the issue, and I think it’s a very good question that you asked me, there are practitioners in the practice of foreign policy and they are directed by those who are in charge of the departments.“We are either all as citizens in favour of reducing poverty, about what I’ve been speaking about now, about addressing global hunger, global poverty, the consequences of climate change. “I think it is a rather extreme view, it is not the view I believe of either the Taoiseach or the Tanaiste, that what you need is a silent President, or a President that simply takes pieces of paper in front of him or her and deals with them at the behest of somebody who is part of a department. “I think, you know, in a couple of years’ time, people will be able to resolve this issue themselves, of whether they want a silent person, a puppet, or whether they want a President.”President Higgins added: “There are people who write to me about development, about peace, about global poverty and I have to say as well, not just was I the spokesperson on foreign affairs for a political party, as a political scientist, as a sociologist, I’m 82, I think from around the age of 30 I have been an activist on all of the issues I have been speaking about today. “Migration, which I’ve studied since I was 27, issues of global poverty, I remember speaking at the first conference on poverty in 1973.“So all of these issues, I think, people are entitled to their opinion…. We are living with where we are.“It’s a deep honour and a deep privilege and a great responsibility and I feel I have a responsibility, not just in terms of a responsibility, I think I’m reflecting the will of the people who put me in Aras an Uachtarain.” Join the Irish Mirror’s breaking news service on WhatsApp. Click this link to receive breaking news and the latest headlines direct to your phone. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
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