Tradition of outspoken presidents - No need for a eunuch in Áras

Anyone who thinks that President Higgins is losing the run of himself by speaking out on controversial issues would do well to remember that outspoken presidents have been the norm rather than the exception for almost 30 years.

The only difference is that Mary Robinson, from 1990, and Mary McAleese, from 1997, chose to use symbols and gestures more than words to make their views known.