President’s Christmas and New Year message discusses migrant crisis

The nativity story is being re-enacted today as the migrant crisis leaves millions worried about the future, President Michael D Higgins states in his Christmas message.

Wishing the people of Ireland a happy Christmas and New Year, Mr Higgins said the 1916 centenary commemorations will be a “lasting source of pride and confidence” but are a reminder of how precious our freedom is.

Mr Higgins said Christmas is a special period, a time of “celebrations, of closeness, and of hope”.