Higgins praised people for their sacrifices

Irish people will be paying for the mistakes of the financial crash for generations to come, President Michael D Higgins has warned in a speech to London’s business elite.

In a keynote address to 750 guests at London’s historic Guildhall, Mr Higgins praised the sacrifices made by people at home.

“It is the ordinary people of Ireland, and generations yet to come, who have borne, and continue to bear, the cost of the painful decisions that have been taken, aimed at stabilising the public finances and reducing the astounding levels of public debt incurred from rescuing our banks.

“In the end, it is how our respective peoples experience the result of our action or inaction that is the test of the quality of our decisions.

“The test will always be a human impact one,” Mr Higgins said.

Quoting Seamus Heaney, thePresident said Ireland was not just a credit rating, but a history and culture.

“The human cost of the financial crisis has been enormous.

“While unemployment is receding in Ireland, it remains too high and the emigration of our young people is a challenge to our future prosperity.

“It is clear to us in Ireland that providing opportunity for our young people, and harnessing their talents, will be the true measure of our recovery.”

The President said Ireland and Britain now needed to have a conversation about the economy and society as they once did about the Troubles in Northern Ireland.

The President ended his Guildhall speech by announcing that he would be supporting England in the upcoming World Cup.

“May I offer, once again, my sincere appreciation for your welcome, and for your attention.

“In modest exchange, let me offer something that, coming from the President of Ireland, might seem transformational.

“As a follower of the beautiful game, I look ahead two months to Brazil and say that if Ireland cannot be at the World Cup Finals,then I will raise a glass to England to go all the way,” President Higgins said.