Has President Higgins overstepped the mark?

Everything he said was political,like he was a member of the opposition.

Is the official Ireland position going slightly out of step with the majority of Europe? The recent put down of that web summit guy would suggest so.

Casey wasnt a protest vote, people voted for him because he was honest about his views on travellers and didnt lie about having no problem living beside them like Higgins did and the rest of them.

Casey took it too far though, he focused too much on the travellers.

He doesn't need a nursing home. He is healthy. Just stop being petty and spiteful.

No one should be surprised that Higgins has overstepped yet again and indeed constantly during his tenure - a look at his political history should tell you that was obvious, as it was when he ran for the second term despite previously saying he wouldn't.

He's a champagne socialist, a hypocrite career politician who has been living off the taxpayer for decades. Nothing particularly unusual about that in Ireland I suppose, but we've rewarded it and his performance with the ultimate retirement plan - twice! That's on anyone who voted for him.

The smug pontificating and poetry stuff is no excuse for him making pronouncements on topics he has no right to speak about. It's not his job or role and he should keep his mouth shut accordingly.

We do have a track record of making poor choices when it comes to politics mind, so we all should learn from this really.

"I think it is very important to realise from a Government policy point of view and no doubt Government is considering this, whatever protections they had were insufficient."

That's not a criticism of Government policy? So what was he saying about Government policy? That it was just grand?

Rather this than a monarchy any day

Even a scaled-down, Scandinavian-style monarchy?

Anyway there are other options, like having the head of state chosen by parliament, or some type of 'council of state'. Or abolishing the office altogether and assume its responsibilities into the PM's office.

Great post. Sums it up very well.

The last 12 years were tough for you 🙂

You went overboard a bit in the first paragraph - "beloved national figure"?? Says who? I think you may be confusing bemusement for adoration.

He's a career politician who has been living off the taxpayer for decades. He is using the office of President to drag the country into diplomatic faux pas, and embarrassing the Government (not that they don't often deserve it) in the process or with other pronouncements outside of his remit.

Being elected by "default" (because the others aren't even worth considering) isn't the same as being popular.

He's been an awful President (and the bar isn't even that high). He shouldn't even still BE President at this stage, but political promises are worthless no matter how much poetry you write or pontificating you do.

Indeed yes. Tough luck chief.

Who did you vote for?

Push back starting. Our views weren't Pro American enough.

The Paddy Cosgrave affair has startled the establishment here. They better fall into line.

Lookit horse , just do what you are paid to do , shake a few footballers hands, welcome sporting teams to Ireland, be an unctious ‘front of house man’.

STFU about other International stuff, let the politickers sort that crud out.

Walk the frikken dogs and don’t bring your leftie leanings into everything. Country is wedging you well to do that.

Top Lad.

Great post.

He has lived high on the hog off the taxpayer for literally decades.

He has a hugely inflated sense of self importance, it would be comical if it wasn’t so serious.

On top of this, he has been an absolutely dreadful, divisive, arrogant president.

People are sick of the sight of him and of the sound of that utterly contrived “Windsor by way of the Burren” pompous fake voice he uses.

He has reduced the presidency to a pathetic soap box for his rants and outbursts, which are happening with concerning frequency as he ages.

The sooner he and his wife get off the stage, the better.

A few people like yourself don't like him... meh

Peter Casey convinced people on here that he was right for the office of President, solely because he used travelers as a dog whistle in the campaign.

The thread on here about that election was full of people praising him for 'finally saying it' and a lot of the same voices are on here acting with righteous indignation at the current President overstepping the bounds of the office, in their view.

Someone also said that if a future President said something that those of us who are fans of Michael D disagreed with, we'd be then complaining that he was stepping out of bounds so let me just respond to that. If a future President says for example that climate change is a myth or counter to the economic need of the country I won't complain about because they said it, I will complain about what they said. There is a massive difference here. One that I think those trying to use the minutiae of the role to counter his speaking out here are also doing, without either admitting it or maybe even recognizing it.

Seeing people claim with certainty that people are sick of him actually makes me laugh a little because it was what was said at that last Presidential election (very vocally on here) and yet re won easily.