Clarification and apology — President Higgins

A reader’s letter published in yesterday’s Irish Examiner stated “Between Christmas and the New Year our President Michael D. Higgins, on behalf of the Government, signed into law the Water Bill 2014”.

This statement is untrue. We accept that President Higgins reviewed the legislation independently as Bunreacht na hÉireann required. President Higgins outlined, in a statement to the press at the time of signing, the detail of the provisions of Articles 26 and 27 of the Constitution.

The President’s signing of the legislation as compliant with the Constitution leaves any citizen’s right to challenge it in the Courts intact.