Higgins believes UK visit will ‘bear fruit’

President Michael D Higgins has welcomed the fact that Ireland will be free of the troika when he embarks upon his historic state visit to Britain next year.

Speaking publicly for the first time about the visit, President Higgins said he was very much looking forward to it and believes it will “bear very good fruit”.

“In relation to economic matters I think it will be welcome when we are in a clear space of taking our own decisions of an economic and social kind.”