President Michael D Higgins has hit out at what he described as “the appalling, destructive reality of homophobia”.

The President made his remarks this morning while addressing a conference organised by youth organisation Foróige.

President Higgins described suicide resulting from racism and homophobia as an appalling blight on a society.

"The idea that any young person would be driven not just to lower self-esteem, exclusion, isolation, loneliness but self destruction itself is an appalling blight on a society,” he said.

“We have to ask about how racism gets going, how homophobia does its destructive work, how isolation tears at a person's wanting to exist, how important every person is. These are important issues, they are not merely emotional issues," President Higgins added.

