Higgins apologises to academic for ‘throwaway’ remark about damehood

The Irish President has apologised to an academic who is chairing an upcoming security forum for a “throwaway” remark he made during a newspaper interview.

In the interview with the Sunday Business Post, Michael D Higgins had criticised the line-up of those invited to speak at the forum, stating the speakers were comprised of “the admirals, the generals, the air force, the rest of it”.

Mr Higgins had also referred to Professor Dame Louise Richardson, the chairwoman of the upcoming Consultative Forum on International Security Policy, as a person with a “very large letter DBE” (Dame of the British Empire) after her name.

During the interview, the president warned about moving away from Ireland’s traditional policy of “positive neutrality”.

In a statement on Monday, a spokesperson for Mr Higgins said he had meant no offence.

The statement said: “We are happy to clarify that the president made the comment to which you refer, over the course of a long interview, while he was looking at a copy of the programme for the forum and was referring casually to the fact that almost every reference to Professor Richardson in the programme was in a bold typeface with, however, DBE in capital letters after her name.

“Indeed, the President’s exact words were ‘a very large letter DBE’.

“The President intended no offence by such a casual remark.

“He apologises for any offence which he may have inadvertently caused to Professor Richardson by what was a throwaway remark.”

The statement continued: “As a political scientist and sociologist the President is familiar with Professor Richardson’s work.

“He has too, with others, an appreciation for the initiatives for which Professor Richardson was awarded her DBE, in attracting more undergraduates from non-traditional or deprived backgrounds to Oxford University.”

Dame Louise, Oxford’s first woman vice-chancellor, was recognised in the UK’s 2022 birthday honours for services to higher education.

President Higgins had said in the weekend interview that Ireland is currently in a dangerous period of “drift” in its foreign policy.

“The most dangerous moment in the articulation of foreign policy and its practice, since the origin of diplomacy, has been when you’re drifting and not knowing what you’re doing,” he said.

The Government’s consultative forum on international security will examine Ireland’s current international partnerships in the area of peace and security. It will also facilitate discussion on the long-standing policy of military neutrality.

As President, Mr Higgins is the supreme commander of the Irish Defence Forces but by convention presidents typically refrain from direct criticism of the government.

Speaking on Monday, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said that joining Nato was not on the agenda of the government or any political party in Ireland.

He said a forum of experts convening this week to discuss Ireland’s defence and security policy was about “having an in-depth conversation” in the face of cyber attacks, issues around international terrorism, industrial espionage and hybrid threats.

“One thing I can be very, very clear about is Ireland isn’t going to join Nato. That’s not on the agenda of this government,” Mr Varadkar told the News Xchange conference in Dublin.

“I don’t think (joining Nato is) on the agenda of any political party in Ireland. So that’s very clear that we’re going to continue with our military neutrality, not join a military alliance and not sign up any mutual defence clauses.

“It is an evolving situation but certainly maintaining military neutrality is the policy of government and I don’t see that changing.”

Tanaiste Micheal Martin heaped praise on Professor Richardson as someone with a “very distinguished record as a political scientist” and said that the Government had been “very thankful” when she agreed to chair the forum.

Speaking at the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference on Monday, Mr Martin said Mr Higgins “had recognised Professor Richardson’s qualities as well, in his statement today”.

“Part of this initiative is about debate and there will be debate about these issues,” he said.

The forum will be held in Cork on June 22, Galway on June 23 and Dublin on June 25 and 27.