President Higgins 'overstepped the mark' with housing disaster comments

President Michael D Higgins with Jigginstown Manor resident John Akano and Tiglin chairman Aubrey McCarthy. Picture: Colin Keegan, Collins Dublin

A constitutional law expert has said President Michael D Higgins “overstepped the mark” in describing Ireland’s housing situation as a “disaster” and the country’s “great, great, great failure”.

In remarks made during a visit to the Tiglin charity’s facility for homeless youth at Jigginstown Manor in Kildare yesterday, the president made an impassioned speech where he said the outlook was “getting darker” and there had been an increase in homelessness among young people.