Michael D Higgins warns against ‘normalisation’ of war in first speech since presidency

Former president MIchael D Higgins discussed climate change, inclusive education, trade unionism, and the impact of good teaching. Picture: Dan Linehan

Former president Michael D Higgins has warned against "the endless rhetoric of militarism" and the “normalisation” of war as a two-week conditional ceasefire is agreed between the US and Iran.

In one of his first speeches since leaving public office last year, Mr Higgins delivered a wide-ranging address at the Irish National Teachers’ Organisation (INTO) annual congress in Killarney.

During the 35-minute speech to delegates at the primary school union’s conference, the former president discussed climate change, inclusive education, trade unionism, and the impact of good teaching.

As he began to speak, Mr Higgins made a clear reference to the current ceasefire agreed on Tuesday, barely an hour before Donald Trump’s deadline to obliterate Iran was set to expire.

Addressing delegates, he said: "May I just say straight away, as I waited this morning to come and join you to give this particular speech I was very anxious at what has been unleased in our world.” 

“Whatever brief respite we have from the most outrageous language and suggestions," he paused.

"It's good to be with trade unionists."

War is “omnipresent", Mr Higgins said.

“It has become normalised in so much of the discourse resulting in unnecessary death, destruction of critical infrastructure, mass displacement, hunger and starvation, and in terms of discourse, a drive towards ever-increased militaisation in every aspect of life.” 

“Security defined as lethal capacity is in fact a species failure, in my view.”

He also made reference to Ireland’s neutrality.

“For those who recently called saying that Ireland must in fact, follow interests, be as strong and be as lethal as everybody else, I have a totally different vision.” “It is time to return to normative thinking in every aspect of foreign policy,” he said.

Mr Higgins also warned that progress made towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Climate Change Agreement has been undermined.

"The change we need is a deep change," Mr Higgins said.

"We are challenged by the fact that delivery on the commitments made on sustainable development and country has been so much less than what was committed and there is grounds to be recovered, and we do not have to commit ourselves to a nameless rhetoric of militarism."

“At this stage of my life, I am very proud to say that I always defined security as freedom from hunger, the right to participate, meaning rather than, in fact wanting to possess the most lethal equipment so that you are equal to others. That is not security, that is danger," he said to applause.

One year's military expenditure at the present time would have enabled us to reduce extreme hunger and make a huge contribution to global poverty, he added.

He also took aim at “unaccountable” social media corporations.

“The greatest challenge to democracy is from power that is not accountable. For example, through unrestrained, unregulated as they would wish it, corporations.”

 - Jess Casey, education correspondent