President pledges to choose words ‘with extreme caution’

President Michael D Higgins has admitted he must be “extremely careful” about choosing his words after several of his remarks in public sparked controversy.

His comments about Government plans to ratify the EU fiscal treaty, as well as remarks expressing opposition to the privatisation of state assets, are said to have alarmed ministers.

Speaking at the Irish Hotels Federation annual conference in Kilkenny, he said — in a quasi-joking manner — that he had to be careful about what he said off script or to journalists.