'If people are not willing to accept basic principles of courtesy that are there to enable discourse, you are moving into the realm of hatred.' Michael D Higgins was speaking at the Other Voices festival in Dingle on Friday. Photograph: CollinsFormer president Michael D Higgins has termed a climate of prevailing “anti-intellectualism” as a threat to the world, urging people to question “the most outrageous abuses of human rights, language, and basic ethics”. “How can you address a woman in [the media] profession as ‘Piggy?’” he said. Mr Higgins later told The Irish Times that Ireland was taking the wrong approach to the immigration debate.

Source: The Irish Times November 30, 2025 01:45 UTC