Thomas Aloysius Finlay , S.J. (1848 – 1940) was an Irish Catholic priest, economist, philosopher and editor.
65-463: The UCD Law Society is one of the largest student societies in Europe. Established in 1911 as 'The Legal and Economic Society', as of 2009 it had approximately 4100 members drawn from the various faculties of the university. The society holds weekly house debates, mock trials, moot court competitions and careers events, as well as inviting notable figures to address the society. Individuals who have addressed
130-640: A humanist element, alongside Christian, Jewish and Muslim ones. He receives an annual salary of €250,000, having requested during his first term that the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform reduce his salary by 23.5% from €325,000. 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. In December 2011, he hosted
195-676: A senator from 1973 to 1977 having been nominated by the Taoiseach . Elected in 1981 as a Teachta Dála (TD), he represented the Galway West constituency from 1981 to 1982 and 1987 to 2011. Between these terms, he returned to Seanad Éireann from 1983 to 1987 as a senator for the National University . He served as minister for arts, culture and the Gaeltacht from 1993 to 1997 and mayor of Galway from 1981 to 1982 and 1990 to 1991. Higgins
260-450: A ceremony at Áras an Uachtaráin . Higgins subsequently attended the inaugural final at Richmond Park on 2 March 2014. Higgins is the subject of the song "Michael D. Rocking in the Dáil" by popular Tuam band The Saw Doctors . The song first appeared as a B-side on the 1994 single "Small Bit of Love" and is also on the 2002 compilation Play It Again, Sham! . Thomas A. Finlay He
325-506: 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. 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 . In July 2021, Higgins sent
390-592: A children's tea party at Áras an Uachtaráin. 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. Higgins made his first official trip abroad when he went to London on 21 February 2012. While there he was given a tour of the Olympic Stadium by Sebastian Coe , and attended a production of Juno and
455-517: A greener future. The speech was criticised by Irish economists, who responded by arguing that Higgins's criticisms were outdated by several decades and that the study of economics in 2023 pivoted long ago to be highly environmentally conscious, something Higgins would be aware of if he interacted with economists more. Labour senator Marie Sherlock defended Higgins's commentary while the Minister for Public Expenditure Paschal Donohoe stated he welcomed
520-503: A homily on Christmas Eve 2013. The Chief of Staff expressed regret for any offence caused by the chaplain. 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 . He also met various people, including British prime minister David Cameron and opposition party leaders at Westminster, and
585-527: 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. 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. Two days later on 17 September, Higgins defended his decision not to attend
650-524: A second term as president in the 2018 Irish presidential election , 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). His nearest rival, Peter Casey , finished on 23% (342,727). On 11 November 2018, Higgins was inaugurated as president of Ireland in St. Patrick's Hall, Dublin Castle , in
715-517: 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's second presidential inauguration took place on 11 November 2018. Higgins was born on 18 April 1941 in Limerick . His father, John Higgins, was from Ballycar, County Clare , and
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#1732884565391780-577: A second term of office if elected. He was selected as a candidate for the presidency at a convention in Dublin on 19 June 2011, beating former senator Kathleen O'Meara and former party adviser Fergus Finlay . His candidacy was endorsed by Hollywood actor Martin Sheen , who described Higgins as a "dear friend". Higgins assisted his rival David Norris by urging his party colleagues on Dublin City Council "in
845-800: A speaker representing the UCD LawSoc won the individual speaker's award at the Irish Times Debate competition. The society has also sent delegates to the World Universities Debating Championship and the European Universities Debating Championship, including reaching the quarter-finals in both competitions. In 1987 and 2006, UCD hosted the World Universities Debating Championship. The society also organises competitive debating in Irish secondary schools through
910-457: A successful political career Higgins has had a career as a poet and broadcaster and has produced works of non-fiction. He has contributed widely to political and philosophical journals on numerous subjects, among them ideology, the sociology of literature, clientelism in politics, regionalism and the politics of the media. He wrote and presented a television film on Montserrat, entitled The Other Emerald Isle for Channel 4 and his documentary on
975-693: A two-week trip, visiting Argentina, Brazil and Chile. 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 . 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 . Special advisor to
1040-683: Is a fluent Irish language speaker and also speaks Spanish. His wife, Sabina Higgins (née Coyne), is an actress and a native of Cloonrane, a townland in County Galway near Ballindine , County Mayo. She grew up on a farm there in a family of five girls and two boys. Higgins met Coyne in 1969, at a party in the family home of journalist Mary Kenny in Dublin. Higgins proposed over Christmas 1973, and they married on 8 July 1974 at Haddington Road Church in Dublin. They celebrated 50 years of marriage in 2024. They have four children: Alice-Mary , Daniel, and twins, John and Michael Jr.; Alice-Mary
1105-571: Is a regular at the Galway Races each summer. He has also previously served as president of Galway United F.C. , is a well known football supporter and regularly attends League of Ireland games. In 2014 the Football Association of Ireland introduced a new association football super cup , the President's Cup , in his honour. On 25 February 2014, the cup itself was officially unveiled with
1170-813: Is committed to maintaining a policy of free speech, a policy which it has, on occasion, found difficult to maintain. In 2008, the radical French politician Jean-Marie Le Pen was invited to address the society concerning the federalisation of the European Union. This event was essentially struck down by university authorities after it denounced the move in response to queries from the national media. Many other debates have seen significant protests from left-wing student movements. Their policy of "no TDs on campus" due to perceived government support of university tuition fees has often conflicted with invitations to Fianna Fáil TDs on unrelated debate motions. Protests occurred in 2008 when government minister Éamon Ryan arrived to address
1235-592: Is one of the main activities of the society, typically taking place on Tuesday evenings in the Fitzgerald Chamber in the UCD Student Centre. Motions have ranged from the relevance of the Students' Union, to the constitutional protection of women's place in the home and Irish neutrality. The Law Society organised the first live Irish presidential debate which took place on nominations day 2011. A society debate on
1300-476: Is the first president of Ireland to have served in both Houses of the Oireachtas , having previously been a member of Dáil Éireann and Seanad Éireann . 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. That night, he presented an award to Niall Tóibín , and received his own standing ovation as he entered
1365-456: The 1969 and 1973 general elections but was unsuccessful on both occasions. One of the people who canvassed for him was future leader of the Labour Party and Tánaiste , Eamon Gilmore , who was then a UCG student. Higgins was appointed to the 13th Seanad in 1973 by Taoiseach Liam Cosgrave . He was first elected to Dáil Éireann at the 1981 general election as a Labour Party TD . He
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#17328845653911430-541: The 2011 general election . He had until this point been living in a two-bed apartment at Grattan Hall on Mount Street, Dublin. He also has a family home in Galway . In September 2010, Higgins indicated that he was interested in receiving the Labour Party's nomination for the 2011 presidential election . He said prior to and during the election campaign that he would serve only one seven-year term as president, and not seeking
1495-602: The Irish Film Institute . 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". Higgins was inaugurated as president of Ireland at Dublin Castle on 11 November 2011. The ceremony had
1560-590: The UCG Fianna Fáil university cumann in 1966. He admitted that he had smoked marijuana while at university in the United States. 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. Higgins promised he would be a neutral president if elected and not be a "handmaiden" to the government. The Labour Party's budget for
1625-524: The lord mayor of London , Alan Yarrow . In December 2014, Higgins made a week-long state visit to China. 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". On 25 August 2018, Higgins received Pope Francis at Áras an Uachtaráin during the Pope's visit to Ireland . On 10 July 2018, Higgins announced that he would stand for
1690-689: The state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II . 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 . On 13 April, Higgins received U.S. President Joe Biden at Áras an Uachtaráin during his four-day visit to the island of Ireland . On 28 April, Higgins made a speech from Áras an Uachtaráin in which he criticised economists for being "obsessed" with economic growth and consumption, and for promoting " neoliberalism ". The same speech urged economists to be more environmentally conscious and to imagine
1755-412: The 1990s and 2000s, the society grew and reached a virtual saturation point in 2010, when prior to the awarding of Honorary Life Membership to television presenter Jeremy Kyle , it signed up its 5,000th member for that session. In the 2010s, the society gained national news coverage when welcoming figures such as Judge Judy and Donald Tusk . By 2017, the society had reached 5,600 members before winning
1820-608: The American Indiana University Bloomington with a Master of Arts degree in sociology. He also briefly attended the University of Manchester . In his academic career, Higgins was a statutory lecturer in the Department of Political Science and Sociology at UCG and was a visiting professor at Southern Illinois University . He resigned his academic posts to concentrate fully on his political career. Higgins
1885-524: The Dáil at the 1987 general election and held his seat until the 2011 general election . In 1993, he joined the cabinet as Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht . During his period as minister he scrapped Section 31 of the Broadcasting Act , re-established the Irish Film Board and set up the Irish language television station, Teilifís na Gaeilge (later renamed TG4 ). He was appointed to
1950-642: The Irish Mace, both times with auditor Conor Gearty . During the 1980s and 1990s, the society won the Irish Times twice more. The notorious criminal, Martin Cahill , addressed the society in 1987 and for many years the society held the Guinness World Record for the longest ever continuous debate. The 1990s saw the society expand its membership base beyond law students; reaching out to the entire campus. Throughout
2015-413: The Irish Times back-to-back, in 2017 and 2018. The Law Society is run by a committee of selected members, each with a specific remit. The committee is chosen by the auditor, who is elected for a single year term by the enrolled membership of the society. The auditor is the head of the committee and responsible for the day-to-day running of the society. At the society's annual general meeting, the results of
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2080-464: The Irish judiciary have been invited to adjudicate at previous competitions. The Thomas A. Finlay Moot Court Intervarsity is an international moot court competition named after the former Irish Chief Justice, Thomas A. Finlay . It was founded in 2009. The Law Society's record in competitive debating includes a number of wins in international debating competitions and victory in the Mace competition. In 2022,
2145-853: The Jesuit theological faculty, Milltown Park , Dublin. He took vows in 1868. He then spent time in Saint-Acheul , France, the Gregorian University , Rome. Moved on because of capture of Rome of the Risorgimento , he was sent to Maria Laach Abbey , in Germany. There he encountered Prussian agricultural methods and the Raiffeisenbank system; and gained an interest in biology from colleagues. He returned to Ireland in 1873. From 1873 to 1876, Finlay taught at Crescent College , Limerick . He founded and edited
2210-496: The Labour Party front bench in 2000. In 2003, Higgins succeeded Proinsias De Rossa in the symbolic position of the president of the Labour Party, while continuing as the party's spokesman on foreign affairs. Higgins indicated his interest in contesting the 2004 presidential election for the Labour Party. The party decided on 16 September 2004 against running a candidate in the election, seeing Mary McAleese as unbeatable. In October 2010, he announced he would not be standing at
2275-720: The Law Society Schools' Mace and the Junior Schools Debating Competition. The society was founded, in 1911, as the Legal & Economic Society. Early committee members included Thomas Kettle, Conor Maguire, Thomas Arkins and Arthur Cox. The society struggled to maintain its activity during the War of Independence and Civil War. The society was renamed the Legal Society in 1924 and had a brief resurgence of activity under
2340-694: The Paycock at the Lyttelton Theatre . He made his first official visit to his alma mater NUI Galway on 24 February, where he opened an autism centre. On 21 March 2012, Higgins was announced as sole patron of the RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra . Addressing a conference organised by youth organisation Foróige on 24 March 2012, Higgins described homophobia and racism in Ireland as a "blight on society". In January 2012, Higgins agreed to become
2405-459: The Red Cow" and "The Ass ", an ode to a donkey. Higgins has campaigned for human rights and written of conflict in many parts of the world, including such areas as Nicaragua, Chile, Cambodia, El Salvador, Iraq and Somalia. He spoke in the Dáil in defence of the 2010 Gaza Freedom Flotilla . In recognition of his work for peace with justice in many parts of the world, he became the first recipient of
2470-829: The Seán MacBride Peace Prize of the International Peace Bureau in Helsinki in 1992. He was a noted critic of U.S. foreign policy under the Ronald Reagan administration. In 2005, in response to a column for the Irish Independent by Kevin Myers about the riots then erupting across immigrant areas in France and Britain, he said "the contents of his column today go beyond his usually crafted cowardice, staying one step on
2535-695: The auditorial election are declared and the new auditor appointed following the passing over of the chain of office. The roles of patron, president and vice-president roles are largely ceremonial. As of 2024, the patron of the Law Society was Professor Oral Feely, the President of UCD, while the president of the society was the Dean of the School of Law, Professor Laurent Pech. There are a number of vice-presidents, who are almost exclusively all international legal figures and address
2600-525: The auditorship of J.C. Flood. In 1926, however, the society ran into trouble once again. In 1935, the society was reconstituted as the Law Society, tasked with organising legal debates and representing legal students. During the 1950s and 1960s, the society began to challenge the Literary & Historical Society for dominance in University debate. In the 1970s, the society won the Irish Times twice, as well as
2665-567: The campaign was within €320,000. 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. Thousands of people lined the streets of Galway to welcome him home the following day. International media coverage of his win reported his humble background, poetry and intellect, with The Washington Post noting "local satirists sometimes depict him as an elf, hobbit or leprechaun talking in riddles and verse". He
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2730-696: The college magazine, in the year he arrived, but could not induce Hopkins to contribute. Finlay in 1880 was ordained priest, and in 1881 he was made head of St Stanislaus College in Tullabeg , replacing William Delany . Amid reorganisation of the Catholic colleges in Dublin, Finlay moved on to University College, Dublin (formerly the Catholic University), then under Henry Neville . In 1883, under Delany from December, he became joint professor at University, with his brother Peter, of mental and moral science. He
2795-649: The debate brought about by Higgins's comments. On 6 May, Higgins was at the Coronation of Charles III and Camilla , marking the first time that a President of Ireland had attended the coronation of a British monarch. On 29 February 2024, Higgins was taken to hospital as a precaution, after complaining of feeling unwell. On 24 April, Higgins confirmed he had suffered a mild stroke . Higgins appointed his Council of State nominees on 6 January 2012 for this first term as president. The nominees were: Higgins's nominees for his second term of office are: As well as having
2860-591: The establishment of the Department of Agriculture and Technical Instruction, a forerunner of the Department of Agriculture. He was a Commissioner of National Education, chaired the Committee on Intermediate Education, and was chairman of the trustees of the National Library . He was president of the Statistical and Social Inquiry Society of Ireland between 1911 and 1913. Finlay was involved as founder and editor of
2925-410: The first female Chief Justice of England and Wales Baroness Carr of Walton-on-the-Hill Michael D. Higgins Michael Daniel Higgins ( Irish : Mícheál Dónal Ó hUigínn ; born 18 April 1941) is an Irish politician, poet, broadcaster and sociologist who has been serving as the ninth president of Ireland since 2011. Entering national politics through the Labour Party , he served as
2990-953: The former president of the ECB, Jean-Claude Trichet, received an honorary lifetime membership of the society. The society awards 'Honorary Life Memberships' to individuals who have contributed significantly to their field. Recipients of Honorary Life Memberships have included actors Patrick J. Adams , Sir Christopher Lee , Martin Sheen , John C. McGinley , Dirk Benedict , Jeremy Irons , David Kelly and Leslie Nielsen , comedians Colin Murphy , Dan Antopolski and Bill Bailey , authors Tucker Max , Jung Chang and Noam Chomsky , political figures Ken Livingstone and Bill Clinton , sportspeople Cristiano Ronaldo , Pauleta , Jimmy White , Brian O’Driscoll and Paul O’Connell, dancer Michael Flatley , supermodel Erin O’Connor and Nobel laureate Seamus Heaney . The society
3055-428: The interests of democracy" not to obstruct Norris's attempts to get onto the ballot at the last moment, adding that the nomination criteria were "outdated". Higgins was confronted by former Tara mines workers while canvassing in County Meath . The workers were upset about their pensions being cut. Higgins was also pursued by his past links to Fianna Fáil, and admitted on 13 October that he had been elected chairman of
3120-432: The life of Noel Browne , for RTÉ , has also been screened. Higgins has had poems published in a number of periodicals, as well as publishing four collections of his poetry, including The Betrayal (1990), his second book of poems The Season of Fire (1993) and his latest book An Arid Season (2004). His personal notes and work books reside at the National Library of Ireland . Among Higgins's poems are "The death of
3185-435: The magazine Catholic Ireland , with Matthew Russell , later the Irish Monthly . In 1877 he was moved to St Beuno's College in Wales, where he was noted for "direct speech and rough clothes". He overlapped there with Gerard Manley Hopkins , whom he knew better from 1884, when Hopkins was a fellow of the Royal University of Ireland and had a post at University College, Dublin . At St Beuno's Finlay started The Lyceum ,
3250-548: 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. On 11 May 2012, he became the 28th Freeman of Galway. In June 2012, nonprofit housing organisation Habitat for Humanity Ireland announced that Higgins would be their sole Patron. In October 2012, Higgins and his wife Sabina went to South America for
3315-414: 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. 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
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#17328845653913380-402: The safe side of prosecution for incitement to hatred or racism." Higgins has voiced his support for the Campaign for the Establishment of a United Nations Parliamentary Assembly , an organisation which campaigns for democratic reformation of the United Nations, and the creation of a more accountable international political system. Higgins's eclectic mix of interests also extends to sport; he
3445-419: The second Lisbon Treaty referendum, on 28 September 2009, saw an attendance of over 1,000 students in O'Reilly Hall, Belfield. The Law Society also regularly invites speakers to deliver individual addresses to the society. Guest speakers have included former Minister for Justice, Michael McDowell in October 2009 and the former lead prosecutor of Slobodan Milosevic, Sir Geoffrey Nice QC in March 2010. In 2017,
3510-433: The service and decided it would be "inappropriate to attend". Pope Francis described Higgins as a "wise man of today" during an audience in the Vatican. 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." On 19 September 2022, Higgins was among 500 presidents, prime ministers, foreign royal family members and dignitaries who attended
3575-427: The silhouette of a navy seal. Robert O'Neill duly gave his address to approximately 300 students. The Cecil Lavery is a moot court competition named after one of the society's former auditors, a former Attorney General and Supreme Court Judge. Initiated in 2005, the competition is organised in a knockout format and the grand final is held in the UCD Sutherland School of Law in February each year. Some senior members of
3640-443: The society include President of Ireland Michael D. Higgins , former Irish Taoiseach (Prime Minister), Bertie Ahern and President of the European Council Donald Tusk . The society's motto is "Ar son na Córa" (in the pursuit of justice). As the largest of the two debating unions in University College Dublin , the society gathers once a week to debate topical motions relating to students and other national issues of importance. This
3705-411: The society upon their appointment to the position. Notable vice-presidents have included the Chief Justice of Canada, the Hon. Ms Justice Beverly McLachlin PC, Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, Antonin Scalia , the former President of the U.K. Supreme Court, Lord Phillips of Worth Matravers, Professor Joseph Raz , the former President of the U.K Supreme Court Baroness Hale of Richmond , and
3770-418: The society. and again in 2009 when Bertie Ahern chaired a debate. In November 2015, Robert O'Neill, the soldier who shot Osama bin Laden , was invited to address the society. The event attracted controversy, and during the week of the event posters and online advertising of the event disappeared without explanation. The morning of the address however, posters appeared promising a 'mystery guest' and depicting
3835-514: Was a lieutenant with the Charleville Company, 3rd Battalion, 2nd Cork Brigade of the Irish Republican Army . John, along with his two brothers Peter and Michael, had been active participants in the Irish War of Independence . When John's father's health grew poor, with alcohol abuse as a contributing factor, John sent Michael, aged five, and his four-year-old brother to live on his unmarried uncle and aunt's farm near Newmarket-on-Fergus , County Clare. His elder twin sisters remained in Limerick. He
3900-428: Was also made rector of Belvedere College in north Dublin. He was auditor of the Literary and Historical Society (University College Dublin) in 1883–1884; and, in turn, professor of classics, of philosophy, and of political economy at University College, from 1903 to 1930. With Horace Plunkett he helped found the Irish Agricultural Organisation Society , and was a member of the 1895 Recess Committee which led to
3965-427: Was born on 6 July 1848 near Lanesborough , the son of William Finlay, an engineer, and his wife Maria Magan; the politician Thomas Finlay , named after him, was his nephew. His father, who died in 1864, was from Fifeshire , a Protestant convert to Catholicism; his mother was a Catholic from County Cavan . Finlay was educated at St Augustine's College, Cavan, and became a novice of the Society of Jesus in 1866, at
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#17328845653914030-403: Was educated at Ballycar National School, County Clare and St. Flannan's College , Ennis . As an undergraduate at University College Galway (UCG), he served as vice-auditor of the college's Literary and Debating Society in 1963–64, and rose to the position of auditor in the 1964–65 academic year. He also served as president of UCG Students' Union in 1964–65. In 1967, Higgins graduated from
4095-417: Was elected to Seanad Éireann in 2016. He has a Bernese Mountain Dog named Misneach (Courage). He previously had two Bernese dogs named Síoda and Bród , who died in 2020 and 2023 respectively. Higgins originally joined Fianna Fáil in UCG while a mature student and was elected its branch chairman in 1966; he switched to the Labour Party shortly thereafter. He was a Labour candidate in
4160-489: Was re-elected at the February 1982 election ; he lost his seat at the November 1982 election (blaming his loss in part on his opposition to the Eighth Amendment ), but returned to the Seanad when he was elected by the National University constituency. He served as Mayor of Galway on two occasions, 1982–1983 and 1991–1992. Within the Labour Party during the 1980s he was one of the main figures, along with Emmet Stagg , who opposed going into coalition. Higgins returned to
4225-421: Was the president of the Labour Party from 2003 to 2011, until he resigned following his election as president of Ireland. 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
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