Taoiseach defends 'decent, inclusive' President Higgins after criticism of letter

"I'm not falling for the trap here, the trap from Israel, of 'let's talk about a letter'," said Simon Harris. "No — let's talk about the dying children."

Taoiseach Simon Harris said he had just come from a meeting where the Palestinian prime minister broke down in tears about children in his own country being killed by Israel today. File Picture: Sam Boal/Collins Photo

The Taoiseach has launched a strong defence of President Michael D Higgins after fresh criticism described his claims that Israel circulated his letter of congratulations to the new Iranian president as "disturbing" and damaging to Jewish people.

Simon Harris said the President is a decent, inclusive individual, and people should be talking about the slaughter of children in Gaza and Lebanon, and not about a letter that was written two months ago.