The Taoiseach and defeated presidential candidates have paid tribute to Michael D Higgins after he was declared president-elect in Dublin Castle today following the fourth count.
Speaking at the results centre, after Mr Higgins pledged to be a president "for all the people", Enda Kenny said: “The authenticity of this result speaks for itself that this is the people’s day; they’ve made their choice very clearly, they wanted Michael D Higgins as their president. He will be an outstanding president and personality over the next seven years.”
President Mary McAleese has also congratulated Mr Higgins on his election. "On my own behalf and on behalf of the Irish people, I warmly congratulate Michael D Higgins, our new president-elect," she said in a statement.
"His success in the presidential election marks the start of an exciting chapter for our country, our global Irish family and for the Higgins family. To Michael D, Sabina and their children, I send my very best wishes and prayers for the years ahead."
Speaking in Dublin Castle, Sinn Féin's Martin McGuinness said it was “a real privilege and honour for me to stand for the presidency of my country," adding it was the “experience of a lifetime”. He said Mr Higgins would be a “very very fine president” and “one of Ireland’s greatest presidents”.
Seán Gallagher also offered his congratulations to Mr Higgins and said the Labour candidate had brought a new message of something fresh into Irish politics.
David Norris said it was a "great day" and described the president-elect as a man possessing a commitment to “justice and human rights”. Mr Norris said his more than 100,000 voters had reinvigorated him and that he would be “more troublesome in the backbench of Seanad Éireann”
“He [Mr Higgins] is a poet, he is a visionary, he is an academic, he is a scholar, but he is a man who above all has a passionate commitment to justice and to human rights, and it’s for that reason that the Irish people have honoured him.
“He must be, I think, about the only political millionaire in this country because he got over one million votes. Now that tells you something about Michael D Higgins,” the senator added to laughter in the hall.
Dana Rosemary Scallon said he was “”grateful to be here” and wished Mr Higgins "everything good in the coming seven years”.
Minister for Public Expenditure Brendan Howlin said he was delighted his colleague was set to become Ireland's ninth president.
"It's a fantastic day for our country. Michael D has spent a lifetime preparing for this job. He will be superb, and I haven't the slightest doubt that Michael D and Sabina will fulfill the roles assigned under the constitution to them in a spectacularly successful way," Mr Howlin said.