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Political week starts with bang as President forced to issue apology

Inside Politics: Suspicion in Coalition that Higgins intentionally violated convention that President does not comment on Government policy

President of Ireland Michael D Higgins was forced to issue his first apology in 12 years following comments about Prof Louise Richardson. Photograph: Niall Carson/PA Wire

Jack Horgan-Jones's face
Jack Horgan-Jones
Tue Jun 20 2023 - 08:01

The political week started with a bang, as President Michael D Higgins was forced to issue a remarkable apology to Prof Louise Richardson, the chair of the Government’s consultative forum on international security policy.

The suspicion in the Coalition has it that the President’s intervention in the Business Post, describing a “drift” in Ireland’s neutrality policy, was an intentional violation of the convention that the President doesn’t comment on Government policy. If this is the case, the President might well rue what his spokesman described as “throwaway” comments on Prof Richardson and her “very large letter DBE” (Dame of the British Empire).

They proved indefensible and wrought an apology that now has obscured, at least temporarily, his comments on neutrality. Prof Richardson’s role in the whole security show is an important one. She is not merely a convenor. She will author the report on the proceedings of the forum, which in turn will inform Government decisions on the next steps - which are unlikely to be without controversy.

That neutrality and security policy has the capacity to stoke political tensions is clear from the fallout from the President’s remarks. They have set the pitch for an acrimonious undercurrent to the forum meetings that will be held across the summer. Both in terms of relations between government buildings and the Áras, as well as the debate on security policy, the comments look set to have a lasting impact.

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As Harry McGee’s report makes clear, the substance of his comments on neutrality enjoy support from the Opposition benches.

Here is a profile of Louise Richardson and you can also read Political Editor Pat Leahy’s analysis of the row over the President’s comments, and the apology.

Gerard Howlin has his say on the controversy.

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Playbook

The political day starts with the Cabinet meeting, with Ministers set to approve one of the biggest investments to date under Micheál Martin’s brainchild, the €1 billion Shared Island initiative - a €45 million funding package for Ulster University’s Campus in Derry.

Meanwhile, Minister for Justice Helen McEntee will seek approval for the publication of a review on the future of the Special Criminal Court - with a split in the review group on the court’s retention leading to a minority report being composed.

Harry has a full tee-up of the Cabinet agenda.

The week’s Dáil action commences at 2pm with Leaders’ Questions, followed by Taoiseach’s Questions at 3.05pm. Government business in the afternoon is taken up during this Pride month with statements on LGBTQI+ equality, while Sinn Féin has an evening motion on education costs at 6.15pm.

Mr Martin is on his feet taking oral questions with his Minister for Defence hat on - expect neutrality and this week’s consultative forum to feature in the wake of the President’s intervention.

Topical issues are at 9.45pm before the Dáil adjourns around 10.30pm.

In the Upper House, commencement matters are at 1pm. In the afternoon, the second stage of a Bill to regulate veterinary products, medicated feed and fertilisers will be taken, followed by the committee and other stages of the Civil Defence Bill.

The Joint Committee on Assisted Dying will hear from academics on the issue of assisted dying and the constitutions at 10.30am, with the environment committee meeting at 11am for an engagement on the decarbonisation of heat.

Ireland’s trade relationship with Canada will be examined at the enterprise committee, while the defamation Bill will be subjected to pre-legislative scrutiny at the justice committee at 4pm.

US special economic envoy to Northern Ireland Joe Kennedy is in town, and there’s a doorstep with Micheál Martin at 3.30pm.