President: Will refugee response be defined by barbed wire and tear gas?

President Michael D Higgins has challenged Europe’s response to the refugee crisis, asking if it will be defined by barbed wire, tear gas, and rubber bullets.

Mr Higgins said some member states took a ruinously and narrowly self-interested response to the crisis of more than 1m refugees fleeing war and persecution.

In a speech on the future of the EU, the President asked why a continent of 500m people felt so threatened by those in need.