Party Asks President to Make Climate Change a Central Theme of His Presidency if Re-Elected

Announcing the Green Party’s decision to back Michael D. Higgins for a second term as Uachtarán na hÉireann today, party Leader Eamon Ryan T.D. praised the president for how he has utilised his office to date to focus on matters of critical importance to the Irish people.

“President Higgins has served Ireland with distinction for the past seven years. We in the Green Party admire him for the way he has conducted his presidency so far; drawing focus onto injustice and inequality and articulating a compassion in public life that has deeply resonated with the entire country. He has also been an outstanding representative of the Irish State abroad and we have taken pride hearing him speak on our behalf around the world.

“We support Michael D. in his campaign for re-election and would urge Green voters to lend their first preferences to him on October 26th.”

Deputy Leader Catherine Martin T.D. joined in expressing her admiration for President Higgins’ tenure to date, and added her hopes for a renewed presidential focus on the threat of climate change if the president is re-elected.

“President Higgins has often spoken clearly and resolutely about the scourge that disadvantage brings to modern Irish society. The Green Party hopes that President Higgins, if he is re-elected by the Irish people, will turn the enormous symbolic power of the presidency towards addressing the threat that climate change is bringing – the threat to people’s livelihoods, to our children’s future prosperity, and to the planet as a whole.

“We need articulate leaders such as President Higgins to lead that fight. We know him to be a defender of our natural environment and have every confidence that, if he is re-elected, he will use his great standing at home and abroad to push for concrete actions to address climate change.”