President Higgins is just too old to serve for a second, seven-year term

Reading between the lines President Higgins is actively considering running again, writes Alison O’Connor

TO SAY someone is too old to do something is viewed by many now as an unforgivable insult. But here goes anyway — our President Michael D Higgins is too old to serve a second term as President.

I say this with some regret because he has been a very fine President and a steadying and wise presence at a time when we needed it most. But when you consider that at the end of a possible second term in 2025 he would be 85 years old; that pushes the boundaries of any active ageing initiative.