Ministers back Higgins on call for crisis rethink

Coalition ministers have backed critical comments by Michael D Higgins after the President entered the eurozone crisis debate and called for a “radical rethink” of how to solve economic difficulties.

Mr Higgins said in an interview that the EU faced a “moral crisis” as much as an economic crisis, and called on leaders to make up their minds as to what type of union they wanted.

His remarks sparked controversy after the Dáil ruled they could not be discussed in the chamber.

Mr Higgins criticised the response by EU leaders to the banking crisis and for not separating bank debt from sovereign debt.

Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore said the interview and other recent comments Mr Higgins had made to the European Parliament reflected the themes of the Irish presidency on stability, jobs, and growth.

“I think the President has made a very significant contribution to the debate in Europe about where Europe is going,” Mr Gilmore said.

He said the comments were “helpful” for Government in advancing its views on austerity and that he had last discussed government policy with Mr Higgins “a couple of days ago”.

Mr Higgins also criticised the ECB’s response to the crisis and said that jointly issued eurozone bonds could help recovery.

Asked about this, Mr Gilmore said: “There is a debate in Europe and in Ireland and we are participants in that debate and the President is reflecting that debate.”

Joe Costello, the junior foreign affairs minister, agreed “entirely” with the President.

Mr Costello — who was Mr Higgins’ director of elections in 2011 — told RTÉ the President was not “stepping over the line” in any way with his remarks.

“I think it’s quite appropriate he would refer to [the economic crisis] in the context of Ireland as well, because it is the issue that affects the entirety of the Irish population. Therefore, from that point of view, the President of all the people, who is elected by the people, is entitled to comment on the welfare of the people,” Mr Costello said.

Education Minister Ruairi Quinn agreed Mr Higgins was not acting beyond his remit.

MEP Gay Mitchell said the president was saying nothing that Irish government leaders were not saying. He also said there was a need for economic stimulus in Europe now and euro bonds could “work wonders” for member states.

Attempts by Sinn Féin to raise the President’s comments in the Dáil were ruled out of order by the Ceann Comhairle.

The European Commission yesterday said EU leaders had taken a balanced approach in response to the crisis.