President Higgins on the covid-19 pandemic
Date: Wed 1st Apr, 2020 | 13:45
Since the start of the Covid-19 crisis, President Higgins has highlighted the importance of an effective response to the spread of the virus, and the need to base that response on the principles of cooperation and solidarity - locally, nationally and internationally.
Some of the President's recent statements and activities relating to the pandemic are listed here:
- President addresses UN meeting on universal access to COVID-19 health technologies (25 September) [ video ] [ audio ]
- Message from President Michael D. Higgins - “Reflecting on Covid-19 — Solidarity, Care, Compassion and Kindness” (10 September) [ video ] [ audio ]
- President opens ‘Big Irish Echo Campfire’ event (28 August) [ video ] [ audio ]
- Message from President Higgins for Songs From an Empty Room (25 July) [ video ] [ audio ]
- Message from President Higgins for Shine a Light - Make Some Noise (24 July) [video ] [ audio ]
- President Higgins urges world leaders to respond to UN Secretary General António Guterres’ call for action (18 July)
- President Higgins signs Financial Provisions (Covid-19) Bill 2020 (17 July)
- President addresses ILO Global Summit on COVID-19 and the World of Work (8 July) [ video ] [ audio ] [ speech ]
- President leads European Music Day tributes to Ireland’s essential workers (21 June)
- Bloomsday 2020 - President Higgins hosts performances at Áras an Uachtaráin (16 June) [ video ] [ audio ]
- President addresses School of Nursing graduation ceremony (6 June) [ video ]
- Message from President Michael D. Higgins on the Covid-19 Community Outreach (5 June) [ audio ]
- President Higgins responds to the employment crisis of the Arts and Cultural Sector in the European Union (5 June)
- Message to students in 6th class (2 June) [ video ] [ audio ]
- Letters to President Higgins from the Irish Public (21 May)
- Message for students in post-primary education (19 May) [ video ] [ audio ]
- President marks International Nurses’ Day (11 May)
- President and Sabina mark International Workers’ Memorial Day with frontline workers (6 May)
- Address on May Day 2020 (1 May - Labour Day) [ video ] [ audio ]
- Message for International Workers’ Commemoration Day (28 April) [ video ] [ audio ]
- ‘We must welcome a seminal document on the economy, society and a just transition ~ NESC Report 149’ (26 April)
- Responding to COVID-19 in Africa (23 April - International Day for Multilateralism and Peace)
- "Out of the Tragedy of Coronavirus may come Hope of a more Just Society" (22 April)
- President Higgins on responding to Covid-19 in Africa (21 April) [ video ] [ audio ]
- Message to the Irish at home and abroad at Easter 2020 (10 April) [ audio ]
- Statement from President Higgins on the Easter Commemoration Programme 2020 (9 April)
- Message for Local, Regional and Community Radio Stations and Newspapers (2 April) [ audio ]
- Statement from President Higgins on the Covid-19 Pandemic (30 March)
- Statement from President Higgins following his signature of the Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (Covid-19) Bill 2020 (27 March)
- Statement from President Higgins on ‘Gaisce sa Bhaile’ (24 March)
- Message from President Higgins to Irish people living in the UK (23 March)
- Statement following the President's signature of the emergency measures legislation (20 March)
- 2020 St. Patrick's Day Message from President Michael D. Higgins (13 March) [ video ] [ audio ]
President Higgins was in direct contact with a number of other Heads of State to stress the importance of international cooperation and solidarity in the fight against the Covid-19.
Among the Heads of State the President contacted were President Radev of Bulgaria, President Milanović of Croatia, President Kaljulaid of Estonia, President Macron of France, President Zourabichvili of Georgia, President Steinmeier of Germany, President Sakellaropoulou of Greece, President Áder of Hungary, President Matterala of Italy, President Vella of Malta, President de Souza of Portugal, President Pahor of Slovenia and King Felipe VI of Spain.
"Take Care" - a poem by Michael D. Higgins (25 March) [video] [ audio ]