Has President Higgins overstepped the mark?

Grand,but we're not neutral.

Ireland won’t be joining NATO anytime in anyone here’s lifetime. Lefty freak out.

Britain has a population of about 2/3rds of Henan province.

Where does such comparisons end and where does their utility even begin?

There have been many forums of interest groups on both Housing and Health down the years.

It just suits your agenda to tell people that such a thing never happened.

This forum next week is a discussion on security and foreign policy challenges, for Ireland, in a changed global context. It's not just about neutrality, or just about considering NATO membership.

But then, it wouldn't suit your agenda to acknowledge that either.

Ostensibly he has 2 years and 5 months left.

He could find it reduced to weeks if he keeps this nonsense up.

Who would/could sack the President?

That would be far more interesting to see. As for MDH getting the boot in on the last spin on the merry go around, FG/FF are probably doing the same on their side.

SF to the rescue!

I think that is it I was amazed when I heard it. Over the years past Presidents have got themselves in hot water for a lot less. He not only mentioned neutrality but 'positive neutrality'.

While Higgins should have kept his mouth shut as it isn't the president's place to make such commentary, he isn't actually wrong. The government seem determined to make Ireland an an aligned state. The upcoming security forum is yet another convention that has a predetermined outcome. They didn't choose their favourite method of legitimising an unpopular policy - the citizens assembly, because they knew they'd never be able to convince people that dropping neutrality was a good idea.

This is a perfect example of the rot at the heart of politics in Ireland, that official Ireland sees its views and only it's views as worthy of consideration. It has stifled debate across a whole range of policy issues and there is no plurality of views - there is only one and must be only one.

A chinese wall that has been respected by both sides, for good reason.

The Constitution may not expressly prohibit it, but the Constitution DOES describe the roles of both the executive and the presidency very clearly, so the custom has been derived from the clear intent in the Constitution.

Higgins has put a coach and horses through that wall today.

And in doing so, he has ensured that any action he takes around legislation put across his desk for assent, must be viewed with some suspicion.

That suspicion being, is Higgins referring X Bill to the Supreme Court because he doesn't like the idealogy of it, or because he thinks it may be unsound, constitutionally?

It's a very bad day for him and a worse day for the office of Uachtarán na hÉireann.

It was not even subtle normally the President couches an opinion leading to interoperation etc. But he came right out, at a sensitive time in world politics and sensitive time in Ireland's decision on neutrality.

Popular elected man makes comments those who elected him makes popular comment shocker

Yep . Because he shouldn't be speaking out ! :)

Seriously people voted for him because he always spoke his mind and not what the current Gov wanted .

Think this crowd are already so unpopular it would bring them down if they reprimanded Miggledy , right or wrong .

This is not to say I agree with him but he is an extremely popular president .

Ending neutral and joining NATO is the inevitable consequence our of weird closeness with America, American politics and culture. I'm not sure sometimes if people realise that we're not part of America.

Have you a link to this retraction? I don't recall it

I was correcting the other poster who said he went to the funeral in Cuba.

He did not retract the original condolences statement but did issue a second clarification statement.

The President of Ireland is the Supreme Commander of the Irish Defence Forces. He has every right to make a comment on whether Ireland should or should not join NATO.

All this thread is is the usual bunch getting red faced and stamping their feet just because Higgins said something.

Fucking laughable carry on. 🤣

I guess he has and not for the first time either. If he says something you agree with it seems ok but if not then..

I guess mant people voted for him knwoing what he'd be like so we were warned.

I happen to think he is right, but saying it from his position as president was a dodgy move.

With repsect to the quoted post, it makes no difference. Neither Ukraine nor Russia gives a toss about what Ireland does or says. Ireland is irrelevant on the global geopolitics stage. And we would be well advised to keep it that way. Stay out of trouble and the best way to do that is to not go out looking for it.