President Higgins on the covid-19 pandemic
Published: 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, compassion and solidarity - locally, nationally and internationally.
"Take Care" - a poem by Michael D. Higgins (25 March) [video] [ audio ]
Some of the President's recent statements and activities relating to the pandemic are listed here:
Thanking the first responders
- President Higgins hosts a special ceremony “To Give Honour and Hold in Memory” those affected by the Covid 19 Pandemic (20 March 2022) [ audio ] [speech]
- “Reflecting on Covid-19 — Solidarity, Care, Compassion and Kindness” (10 September 2020) [ video ] [ audio ]
- President leads European Music Day tributes to Ireland’s essential workers (21 June 2020)
- President addresses School of Nursing graduation ceremony (6 June 2020) [ video ]
- Message from President Michael D. Higgins on the Covid-19 Community Outreach (5 June 2020) [ audio ]
- President marks International Nurses’ Day (11 May 2020)
- President and Sabina mark International Workers’ Memorial Day with frontline workers (6 May 2020)
- Address on May Day 2020 (1 May 2020 - Labour Day) [ video ] [ audio ]
- Message for International Workers’ Commemoration Day (28 April 2020) [ video ] [ audio ]
Building back better
- President Higgins marks May Day 2021 (1 May 2021) [ video ] [ audio ] [ speech ]
- Message for St. Patrick's Day (17 March 2021) [ video ] [ audio ] [ speech ]
- President addresses Fórsa Conference on challenges in the workplace during Covid-19 time (19 November 2020) [ video ] [ audio ] [ speech ]
- President addresses OECD ‘Confronting Planetary Emergencies’ event (9 October 2020) [ video ] [ audio ] [ speech ]
- ‘We must welcome a seminal document on the economy, society and a just transition ~ NESC Report 149’ (26 April 2020)
- "Out of the Tragedy of Coronavirus may come Hope of a more Just Society" (22 April 2020)
Covid and Education
- President Higgins pays tribute to students in post-primary education (18 May 2021) [ audio ] [ video ]
- Message from President Michael D. Higgins For the ‘Ireland Reads’ Initiative (4 February 2021)
- President Higgins pays tribute to school communities managing the Covid-19 pandemic (11 December 2020) [ audio ] [ video ]
- President Michael D. Higgins issues special message for third level students (10 December 2020) [ audio ] [ video ]
- Message from Michael D. Higgins for World Philosophy Day 2020 (19 November 2020)
- Message to students in 6th class (2 June 2020) [ video ] [ audio ]
- Message for students in post-primary education (19 May 2020) [ video ] [ audio ]
- Statement from President Higgins on ‘Gaisce sa Bhaile’ (24 March 2020)
Covid-19 and global solidarity
- President receives Dr. Michael Ryan on a courtesy call (5 January 2022)
- President Higgins writes to fellow European Presidents to highlight need for universal and equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines (3 January 2022)
- President addresses Global Asia Matters Summit (26 November 2020) [ speech ]
- Statement Marking 10 November, World Science Day For Peace and Development (10 November 2020)
- Message to mark the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty (17 October 2020) [ video ] [ audio ]
- President addresses UN meeting on universal access to COVID-19 health technologies (25 September 2020) [ video ] [ audio ]
- President Higgins urges world leaders to respond to UN Secretary General’s call for action (18 July 2020)
- President addresses ILO Global Summit on COVID-19 and the World of Work (8 July 2020) [ video ] [ audio ] [ speech ]
- Responding to COVID-19 in Africa (23 April 2020- International Day for Multilateralism and Peace)
- President Higgins on responding to Covid-19 in Africa (21 April 2020) [ video ] [ audio ]
Impact on the arts
- President Higgins and Sabina host New Year’s Eve performance (31 December 2020) [ video ] [ audio ]
- Message from President Higgins for Songs From an Empty Room (25 July 2020) [ video ] [ audio ]
- Message from President Higgins for Shine a Light - Make Some Noise (24 July 2020) [video ] [ audio ]
- Bloomsday 2020 - President Higgins hosts performances at Áras an Uachtaráin (16 June 2020) [ video ] [ audio ]
- President Higgins responds to the employment crisis of the Arts and Cultural Sector in the European Union (5 June 2020)
Irish diaspora
- Christmas and New Year's Message (23 December 2020) [ video ] [ audio ]
- President opens ‘Big Irish Echo Campfire’ event (28 August 2020) [ video ] [ audio ]
- Message to the Irish at home and abroad at Easter 2020 (10 April 2020) [ audio ]
- Message from President Higgins to Irish people living in the UK (23 March 2020)
General
- Christmas and New Year’s Message from President Michael D. Higgins (24 December 2021) [ audio ] [ video ]
- Message from President Higgins for Primary School Students (22 June 2021)
- President and Sabina mark International Women's Day (8 March 2021) [ audio ] [ video ]
- President marks Lá Fhéile Bhríde (1 February 2021) [ audio ] [ video ]
- President officially opens the BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition 2021 (6 January 2021)
- President addresses Irish Hospitality Institute’s Professionals Day (26 November 2020) [ video ] [ audio ] [ speech ]
- President Higgins signs Financial Provisions (Covid-19) Bill 2020 (17 July 2020)
- Letters to President Higgins from the Irish Public (21 May 2020)
- Statement from President Higgins on the Easter Commemoration Programme 2020 (9 April 2020)
- Message for Local, Regional and Community Radio Stations and Newspapers (2 April 2020) [ audio ]
- Statement from President Higgins on the Covid-19 Pandemic (30 March 2020)
- Statement from President Higgins following his signature of the Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (Covid-19) Bill 2020 (27 March 2020)
- Statement following the President's signature of the emergency measures legislation (20 March 2020)
- 2020 St. Patrick's Day Message from President Michael D. Higgins (13 March 2020) [ 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 Van Der Bellen of Austria, 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.