DUP’s criticism of decision not to attend NI ceremony a bit exaggerated, President says

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It may have taken President Michael D Higgins nearly two days to finally lay out his reasons for refusing to attend a religious ceremony in Co Armagh alongside Queen Elizabeth next month.

But when he broke his silence on the controversy last night, the president steadfastly stood by his decision and flatly rejected any suggestion of a snub or boycott on his part.

The core of the problem, he said, was the title of the October 21 interfaith service, which said it would mark the centenary of the partition of Ireland and the formation of Northern Ireland.

It was the reference to the partition of Ireland that caused the greatest difficulty, he said, as it politicized the event in a way that made his presence inappropriate.

An invitation to a church service or religious event had indeed become a political statement, the president said.

You might understand that the title you give to the thing would affect the decision of ownership of [whether or not] a head of state should attend.

I was also called the President of the Republic of Ireland. I am the President of Ireland, he said.

Higgins gave a lengthy interview to Irish media in Rome last night, on the penultimate day of a four-day visit to the Italian capital. The issue threatened to overshadow his audience with Pope Francis at the Vatican on Friday morning.

It’s not the event itself [which has caused a problem], he said. Reconciliation is good. People can pray as much as they want. The point is, that’s the title.

The way it is presented is to mark the partition of Ireland and the establishment of the State of Northern Ireland.

I am very open to anyone in Northern Ireland in a Unionist stance celebrating this however they want.

He said it was a different thing for the President of Ireland to attend an event with that title.

First of all, it is very important to say that this is a decision that I made and that it was not part of any boycott of commemorative institutions, he said.

Snub

In a reference to Queen Elizabeth, he said: There is no question of a snub to anyone.

I am not snubbing anyone and I am not part of the boycott of anyone of any other event in Northern Ireland.

I wish their service good luck, but they understand that I have the right to exercise discretion as to what I think is appropriate for my presence.

He said that as president he would welcome a conversation with the Queen at any time.

In response to DUP politicians who claimed he had snubbed the event, he replied: It’s a bit much, to be frank with you. I have been to Northern Ireland to participate in events at Queens University, Ulster University etc.

Often there hasn’t been a lot of traffic from the DUP people who are criticizing me now, he added.

When asked why the reference to partition was problematic, he pointed out that the border was officially approved in 1925 (when the Borders Commission released its report) and that there were other issues involved. , including possible coercion. He referred to his Macnamh (Reflection) seminar series on the events of the centenary, the next of which will examine the 1921 treaty.

My commitment is that the Good Friday Agreement leaves all options for the future open to be decided by consensus. he said. The border is 1925, after all. The treaty must be discussed in its entirety [at the Macnamh seminar]. It is not the same as the Good Friday Agreement. What was the context, including coercion, you have to put it all in there.

If you’re going to sit under a title, I just [could not].

He added that his decision should be treated with respect. I treat everyone with respect. I only demand the same respect for myself and my decision. An invitation is an invitation. It is not an instruction or an injunction.

The president said people should now move on without freeing each other up for free.

He said his office would respond to the letter sent by DUP MP Peter Weir and do so with courtesy. He said he appreciated the thoughtful response to the controversy from former UUP chief Michael Nesbitt.

He said there was no doubt he would reverse his decision. We are past the stage now and I think it’s unfortunate.

He said that in any case on the day of the event he would host the Statistical and Social Survey Association of Ireland at ras an Uachtarin and respond to Danny McCoys’ presidential address on the economics of sustainability. .

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