Higgins: Country must not return to 'business as usual'

The President Michael D Higgins says the country is at risk of going back to "business as usual".

President Higgins says there are already signs in the housing and credit markets that such a return may be underway.

He was speaking an an event in Dublin hosted by the St Vincent de Paul where he launched the next phase of his Ethics Initiative.

President Higgins says the opportunity to seek a new set of ethical principles in Ireland must not be missed.

He said: "The risk, as I see it, is that if we do not tackle the assumptions that have inflicted such deep injuries on our moral imaginations, we will end up going back to business as usual, as many of those advocating a quiescent fortitude on the road to recovery would like us to do."