Presidency of Michael D. Higgins

Michael D. Higgins began his first term as President of Ireland on 11 November 2011, following his inauguration at Saint Patrick's Hall in the State Apartments in Dublin Castle. Higgins was declared the winner of the 2011 Irish presidential election on 29 October 2011, with 1,007,104 votes, far more than any Irish politician in the history of the republic.

Michael D. Higgins
Presidency of Michael D. Higgins
11 November 2011 – present
PartyIndependent
Election

Higgins has used his time in office as president to address issues concerning justice, social equality, social inclusion, anti-sectarianism, anti-racism, and reconciliation. He made the first state visit by an Irish president to the United Kingdom in April 2014.

Higgins ran for a second term as president of Ireland in 2018 and was re-elected in a landslide victory. Higgins attained the largest personal mandate in the history of the Republic of Ireland, with 822,566 first-preference votes. Higgins' second presidential inauguration took place on 11 November 2018.

Background
Main article: 2011 Irish presidential election
Higgins and Ivana Bacik campaigning during the 2011 presidential race

Prior to his bid for for the presidency, Higgins had spent 38 years in Irish politics, serving variously as Mayor of Galway, a Teachta Dála, and a senator.[1]

In September 2010, Higgins indicated that he was interested in receiving the Labour Party's nomination for the 2011 presidential election.[2] He said prior to the election campaign, and repeated during it, that he would serve only one seven-year term as president, and would not seek a second term of office, despite being entitled to do so.[3][4]

He was selected as a candidate for the presidency at a special convention in Dublin on 19 June 2011, beating former senator Kathleen O'Meara and former party adviser Fergus Finlay.[5][6] His candidacy was endorsed by Hollywood actor Martin Sheen, who described Higgins as a "dear friend".[7] Higgins assisted his rival David Norris by urging his party colleagues on Dublin City Council not to obstruct Norris's attempts to get onto the ballot at the last moment "in the interests of democracy", adding that the nomination criteria were "outdated".[8][9]

Higgins was confronted by former Tara mines workers while canvassing in Meath. The workers were upset about their pensions being cut.[10] Higgins was also pursued by his past links to the Fianna Fáil party, and admitted on 13 October that he had been elected chairman of the UCG Fianna Fáil university cumann in 1966.[11] He admitted that he had smoked marijuana while at university in the United States.[11] However, media reports said he was "spared the intense grilling Miriam O'Callaghan meted out to some of the others" during the Prime Time debate.[12] Higgins promised he would be a neutral president if elected and not be a "handmaiden" to the government.[13] The Labour Party's budget for the campaign was within €320,000.[14]

On 29 October 2011, two days after the presidential election was held, Higgins was declared the winner with a total of 1,007,104 votes, far more than any Irish politician in the history of the republic.[15][16] Thousands of people lined the streets of Galway to welcome him home the following day.[17][18][19] International media coverage of his win reported his humble background, poetry and intellect,[20] with The Washington Post noting "local satirists sometimes depict him as an elf, hobbit or leprechaun talking in riddles and verse".[21] He is the first president of Ireland to have served in both Houses of the Oireachtas, having previously been a member of Dáil Éireann (Lower House) and Seanad Éireann (Upper House).[22]

Before his inauguration, Higgins and his family met his predecessor Mary McAleese and her husband Martin for lunch at Áras an Uachtaráin on 3 November.[23] That night, he presented an award to Niall Tóibín, and received his own standing ovation as he entered the Irish Film Institute.[24] On 5 November, he attended an important football game, featuring Galway United versus Monaghan United in the second leg in the League of Ireland promotion/relegation play-off at Terryland Park, wrapped in the scarf of his favourite team, and being greeted by a large banner hanging from a stand declaring "Welcome home to Galway, Mr President".[25][26][27][28]

First term (2011–2018)

Inauguration and first year
Higgins meets with First Minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon, June 2016

Higgins was inaugurated as president of Ireland at Dublin Castle on 11 November 2011.[29] The ceremony had a humanist element, alongside Christian, Jewish and Muslim ones.[30] He receives an annual salary of €250,000,[31] having requested during his first term that the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform reduce his salary by 23.5% from €325,000.[32][33]

Higgins travelled to Derry to attend the final of the All-Ireland school choir of the year competition on 13 November 2011, for his first official presidential engagement in Northern Ireland.[34][35][36] In December 2011, he hosted a children's tea party at Áras an Uachtaráin.[37] He attended the Bon Secours Hospital in Galway on 13 December for surgery on the kneecap that was broken in a fall during a visit to Buenaventura, Colombia in 2010.[38]

Higgins made his first official trip abroad when he went to London on 21 February 2012.[39] While there he was given a tour of the Olympic Stadium by Sebastian Coe, and attended a production of Juno and the Paycock at the Lyttelton Theatre.[40][41] He made his first official visit to his alma mater NUI Galway on 24 February, where he opened an autism centre.[42] On 21 March 2012, Higgins was announced as the sole patron of the RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra.[43] Addressing a conference which was organised by youth organisation Foróige on 24 March 2012, Higgins described homophobia and racism in Ireland as a "blight on society".[44]

In January 2012, Higgins agreed to become the patron of Clans of Ireland, including its Order of Merit. On the president's behalf, Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport Leo Varadkar, awarded "Companionship" in this Order of Clans of Ireland to several nominees at a ceremony in the Mansion House, Dublin on 28 April 2012.[45] On 11 May 2012, he became the 28th Freeman of Galway.[46] In June 2012, nonprofit housing organisation Habitat for Humanity Ireland announced that Higgins would be their sole Patron.[47] In October 2012, Higgins and his wife Sabina went to South America for a two-week trip, visiting Argentina, Brazil and Chile.[48] Higgins rushed home from a visit to Rome, Italy, to sign the Irish Bank Resolution Corporation Bill 2013 into law at Áras an Uachtaráin early on 7 February 2013, on the urgent request of the Government of Ireland.[49] On 29 July 2013, he convened a meeting of the Council of State, the first of his presidency, to consult on the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013.[50][51]

Higgins received the Order of Clans of Ireland in April 2012. Also pictured are Sabina Higgins (left) and Dr. Michael J. Egan, Chairman of Clans of Ireland (right)

Resignation of Mary van Lieshout

Special advisor to the president, Mary van Lieshout, who formed part of the management team in Áras an Uachtaráin under Secretary General Adrian O'Neill, resigned in November 2013. The departure raised criticism over presidential management of the team.[52] The presidential Christmas messages delivered by Higgins from 2011 to 2013 did not mention Christianity or religion, which was criticised by the Defence Forces' chaplain in a homily on Christmas Eve 2013.[53] The Chief of Staff expressed regret for any offence caused by the chaplain.[53]

State visit to the United Kingdom
Main article: President Michael D. Higgins' state visit to the United Kingdom

In April 2014, Higgins paid the first state visit to the United Kingdom by an Irish president. He stayed as a guest of Queen Elizabeth II at Windsor Castle and addressed both Houses of Parliament.[54] He also met various people, including the British prime minister, David Cameron,[55] and opposition party leaders at Westminster, and the lord mayor of London, Alan Yarrow. In December 2014, Higgins made a week-long state visit to China.[56]

Comments following Fidel Castro's death

In November 2016, Higgins received criticism from some sections of the Irish media for praising Fidel Castro, saying in a statement that he learned of Castro's death with "great sadness".[57]

Pope Francis' visit to Ireland
Main article: Visit by Pope Francis to Ireland

On 25 August 2018, Higgins received Pope Francis at Áras an Uachtaráin during the Pope's visit to Ireland. In addition, Higgins and Taoiseach Leo Varadkar attended the Festival of Families event at Croke Park to mark the beginning of the World Meeting of Families 2018.

2018 presidential election
Main article: 2018 Irish presidential election

On 10 July 2018, Higgins announced that he would stand for a second term as president in the 2018 Irish presidential election,[58] despite having previously stated during the campaign for his first term that he would not. Higgins won the 2018 presidential election with 56% of the vote on the first count (822,566).[59] His nearest rival, Peter Casey, finished on 23% (342,727).[60]

Second term (2018–present)

Second inauguration

On 11 November 2018, Higgins was inaugurated as president of Ireland in St. Patrick's Hall, Dublin Castle, in a ceremony attended by Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, and former presidents Mary Robinson and Mary McAleese, as well as representatives of all political parties. The ceremony was held in the evening, so that Higgins could attend Armistice Day commemorations in the morning.[61]

State visit to Germany

On 3 July 2019, Higgins began a three-day state visit to Germany. While visiting Germany, Higgins met with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and President of Germany Frank-Walter Steinmeier.[62]

Concern over legislation

In July 2021, Higgins sent a letter to the Oireachtas expressing concern that there had been a tendency in recent years for him to be sent a large volume of complex legislation to be signed in a short period.[63]

Higgins meets with U.S. President Joe Biden and rings the Peace Bell, April 2023

Marking Northern Ireland's centenary

On 15 September 2021, Higgins declined an invitation to attend a church service with Britain's Queen Elizabeth in October to mark Northern Ireland's centenary.[64] Two days later on 17 September, Higgins defended his decision not to attend the service and decided it would be "inappropriate to attend".[65] Pope Francis described Higgins as a "wise man of today" during an audience in the Vatican.[66]

Comments on the housing crisis

On 15 June 2022, Higgins described housing in Ireland as "our great, great failure", saying "It isn't a crisis anymore — it is a disaster."[67]

State funeral of Queen Elizabeth II

On 19 September 2022, Higgins was among 500 presidents, prime ministers, foreign royal family members and dignitaries who attended the state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II.[68]

State visit to Senegal

On 24 January 2023, Higgins began a five-day state visit to Senegal, his first time in Africa since 2014. While visiting Senegal, Higgins met with Senegalese president Macky Sall.[69]

Joe Biden's visit to Ireland

On 13 April 2023, Higgins received U.S. President Joe Biden at Áras an Uachtaráin during his four-day visit to the island of Ireland.[70]

Death of Bród

On 22 April 2023, it was announced that one of Higgins' Bernese Mountain Dogs, Bród, had died at the age of 10.[71]

Coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla

On 6 May 2023, Higgins attended the Coronation of Charles III and Camilla marking the first time that a President of Ireland attended the coronation of a British Monarch.[72]

Council of State
Main article: Council of State (Ireland)

Presidential appointees

Higgins appointed his Council of State nominees on 6 January 2012 for this first term as president.[73][74][75] The nominees were:

  • Michael Farrell – solicitor with Free Legal Advice Centres
  • Deirdre Heenan – Provost and Dean of Academic Development at the University of Ulster
  • Catherine McGuinness – former Senator, member of the Council of State, and former Supreme Court judge
  • Ruairí McKiernan – community activist and social entrepreneur
  • Sally Mulready – London-resident campaigner for the rights of survivors of Irish institutions and local councillor in the London Borough of Hackney
  • Gearóid Ó Tuathaigh – Professor emeritus in history at the National University of Ireland, Galway.
  • Gerard Quinn – Director of the Centre for Disability Law and Policy at the NUI Galway School of Law

Higgins' nominees for his second term of office are:[76]

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