President Higgins: Demeaning treatment of people in poverty is undemocratic

President Michael D Higgins has spoken out about people being insulted and demeaned by the social welfare system.

Those struggling with poverty can be treated as merely numbers or cases and are forced to jump many difficult hurdles to claim benefits to which they are entitled, said the President.

Mr Higgins also criticised overly complicated procedures and layers of red tape blocking people from vital public services.