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62-819: The Regional Assemblies replaced Regional Authorities, which had been established under the Local Government Act 1991 as enacted and came into existence in 1994. From 1999 to 2014, there were two Regional Assemblies, which existed above the Regional Authority structure. Following an amendment to the Local Government Act 1991 by the Local Government Reform Act 2014 , the Regional Authorities were abolished and replaced by two Regional Assemblies in June 2014. Following

124-660: A humanist element, alongside Christian, Jewish and Muslim ones. He receives an annual salary of €250,000, having requested during his first term that the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform reduce his salary by 23.5% from €325,000. Higgins travelled to Derry to attend the final of the All-Ireland school choir of the year competition on 13 November 2011, for his first official presidential engagement in Northern Ireland. In December 2011, he hosted

186-506: A ceremony attended by Taoiseach Leo Varadkar , and former presidents Mary Robinson and Mary McAleese , as well as representatives of all political parties. The ceremony was held in the evening, so that Higgins could attend Armistice Day commemorations in the morning. On 3 July 2019, Higgins began a three-day state visit to Germany. While visiting Germany, Higgins met with German chancellor Angela Merkel and President of Germany Frank-Walter Steinmeier . In July 2021, Higgins sent

248-612: A children's tea party at Áras an Uachtaráin. He attended the Bon Secours Hospital in Galway on 13 December for surgery on the kneecap that was broken in a fall during a visit to Buenaventura , Colombia in 2010. Higgins made his first official trip abroad when he went to London on 21 February 2012. While there he was given a tour of the Olympic Stadium by Sebastian Coe , and attended a production of Juno and

310-490: A designated city/county manager (chief executive of a local authority) from one of its local authorities to further enhance the linkages between the local authorities and the Regional Authority. Each local authority had a certain number of seats on a Regional Authority, based loosely on the population of the local authority area. The size of the Regional Authorities varied from 21 members in the Mid-East region to 37 members in

372-702: A directly elected executive Mayor of the Dublin Metropolitan Area (distinct from the existing ceremonial office of Lord Mayor of Dublin city ) although this provision was not activated. The act was introduced as a bill on 15 October 2013 by Phil Hogan , the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government , and signed into law on 27 January 2014 by President Michael D. Higgins . Most of its provisions came into force on 1 June 2014. The Local Government Act 2001 had replaced

434-409: A further adjustment, from 1 January 2015, there were three Regional Assemblies, each divided into Strategic Planning Committees. There are 3 regions, each of which is a NUTS 2 statistical region of Ireland . The regions are divided into strategic planning areas (SPAs), which are NUTS 3 statistical regions, roughly corresponding with the former regions under the Regional Authority system. The areas of

496-522: A greener future. The speech was criticised by Irish economists, who responded by arguing that Higgins's criticisms were outdated by several decades and that the study of economics in 2023 pivoted long ago to be highly environmentally conscious, something Higgins would be aware of if he interacted with economists more. Labour senator Marie Sherlock defended Higgins's commentary while the Minister for Public Expenditure Paschal Donohoe stated he welcomed

558-510: A homily on Christmas Eve 2013. The Chief of Staff expressed regret for any offence caused by the chaplain. In April 2014, Higgins paid the first state visit to the United Kingdom by an Irish president . He stayed as a guest of Queen Elizabeth II at Windsor Castle and addressed both Houses of Parliament . He also met various people, including British prime minister David Cameron and opposition party leaders at Westminster, and

620-538: A letter to the Oireachtas expressing concern that there had been a tendency in recent years for him to be sent a large volume of complex legislation to be signed in a short period. On 15 September 2021, Higgins declined an invitation to attend a church service with Britain's Queen Elizabeth in October to mark Northern Ireland's centenary. Two days later on 17 September, Higgins defended his decision not to attend

682-531: A second term as president in the 2018 Irish presidential election , despite having previously stated during the campaign for his first term that he would not. Higgins won the 2018 presidential election with 56% of the vote on the first count (822,566). His nearest rival, Peter Casey , finished on 23% (342,727). On 11 November 2018, Higgins was inaugurated as president of Ireland in St. Patrick's Hall, Dublin Castle , in

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744-527: A second term as president of Ireland in 2018 and was re-elected in a landslide victory . Higgins attained the largest personal mandate in the history of the Republic of Ireland , with 822,566 first-preference votes . Higgins's second presidential inauguration took place on 11 November 2018. Higgins was born on 18 April 1941 in Limerick . His father, John Higgins, was from Ballycar, County Clare , and

806-591: A second term of office if elected. He was selected as a candidate for the presidency at a convention in Dublin on 19 June 2011, beating former senator Kathleen O'Meara and former party adviser Fergus Finlay . His candidacy was endorsed by Hollywood actor Martin Sheen , who described Higgins as a "dear friend". Higgins assisted his rival David Norris by urging his party colleagues on Dublin City Council "in

868-457: A successful political career Higgins has had a career as a poet and broadcaster and has produced works of non-fiction. He has contributed widely to political and philosophical journals on numerous subjects, among them ideology, the sociology of literature, clientelism in politics, regionalism and the politics of the media. He wrote and presented a television film on Montserrat, entitled The Other Emerald Isle for Channel 4 and his documentary on

930-725: A two-week trip, visiting Argentina, Brazil and Chile. Higgins rushed home from a visit to Rome , Italy, to sign the Irish Bank Resolution Corporation Bill 2013 into law at Áras an Uachtaráin early on 7 February 2013, on the urgent request of the Government of Ireland . On 29 July 2013, he convened a meeting of the Council of State , the first of his presidency, to consult on the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013 . Special advisor to

992-690: Is a fluent Irish language speaker and also speaks Spanish. His wife, Sabina Higgins (née Coyne), is an actress and a native of Cloonrane, a townland in County Galway near Ballindine , County Mayo. She grew up on a farm there in a family of five girls and two boys. Higgins met Coyne in 1969, at a party in the family home of journalist Mary Kenny in Dublin. Higgins proposed over Christmas 1973, and they married on 8 July 1974 at Haddington Road Church in Dublin. They celebrated 50 years of marriage in 2024. They have four children: Alice-Mary , Daniel, and twins, John and Michael Jr.; Alice-Mary

1054-591: Is a regular at the Galway Races each summer. He has also previously served as president of Galway United F.C. , is a well known football supporter and regularly attends League of Ireland games. In 2014 the Football Association of Ireland introduced a new association football super cup , the President's Cup , in his honour. On 25 February 2014, the cup itself was officially unveiled with

1116-466: Is an act of the Oireachtas which provided for a major restructuring of local government in Ireland with effect from the 2014 local elections . It merged some first-tier county and city councils, abolished all second-tier town and borough councils , and created a new second tier of municipal districts covering rural as well as urban areas. It also provided for a plebiscite on whether to create

1178-482: Is the first president of Ireland to have served in both Houses of the Oireachtas , having previously been a member of Dáil Éireann and Seanad Éireann . Before his inauguration, Higgins and his family met his predecessor Mary McAleese and her husband Martin for lunch at Áras an Uachtaráin on 3 November. That night, he presented an award to Niall Tóibín , and received his own standing ovation as he entered

1240-462: The 1969 and 1973 general elections but was unsuccessful on both occasions. One of the people who canvassed for him was future leader of the Labour Party and Tánaiste , Eamon Gilmore , who was then a UCG student. Higgins was appointed to the 13th Seanad in 1973 by Taoiseach Liam Cosgrave . He was first elected to Dáil Éireann at the 1981 general election as a Labour Party TD . He

1302-551: The 2011 general election . He had until this point been living in a two-bed apartment at Grattan Hall on Mount Street, Dublin. He also has a family home in Galway . In September 2010, Higgins indicated that he was interested in receiving the Labour Party's nomination for the 2011 presidential election . He said prior to and during the election campaign that he would serve only one seven-year term as president, and not seeking

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1364-487: The Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government published Putting People First — Action Programme for Effective Local Government , which outlined the changes planned for the prospective bill. The minister established a boundary commission to define local electoral areas for the 2014 election, including the Action Programme within its terms of reference. Provision for directly elected mayors

1426-464: The Fine Gael–led government formed after the 2016 election considered "establishing town and borough councils subject to a local plebiscite and local funding". In June 2017, Fianna Fáil introduced a private member's bill to establish a Town Councils Commission "to carry out a review and make recommendations relating to the establishment and boundaries of a town council system". It was opposed by

1488-666: The High Court for an injunction to stop the local elections on 23 May 2014, arguing the 2014 Act was null as it was passed without a vote , and that it violated Article 28A of the Constitution and the European Charter of Local Self-Government . In March 2015, then Labour Party ministers Brendan Howlin and Alan Kelly expressed dissatisfaction with the abolition of town councils. Howlin regretted having acquiesced to Fine Gael minister Phil Hogan, who championed

1550-615: The Irish Film Institute . On 5 November, he attended an important football game, featuring Galway United versus Monaghan United in the second leg in the League of Ireland promotion/relegation play-off at Terryland Park , wrapped in the scarf of his favourite team, and being greeted by a large banner hanging from a stand declaring "Welcome home to Galway, Mr President". Higgins was inaugurated as president of Ireland at Dublin Castle on 11 November 2011. The ceremony had

1612-734: The Labour Party , he served as a senator from 1973 to 1977 having been nominated by the Taoiseach . Elected in 1981 as a Teachta Dála (TD), he represented the Galway West constituency from 1981 to 1982 and 1987 to 2011. Between these terms, he returned to Seanad Éireann from 1983 to 1987 as a senator for the National University . He served as minister for arts, culture and the Gaeltacht from 1993 to 1997 and mayor of Galway from 1981 to 1982 and 1990 to 1991. Higgins

1674-513: The Local Government (Ireland) Act 1898 as the primary legislation for local government in the state. It redesignated the " urban district councils " and " town commissioners " as "town councils" without substantive changes to their existing powers, which were relatively slight for urban districts and even more so for commissioners. Various plans for more fundamental changes to the local government system have been made both before and after

1736-610: The UCG Fianna Fáil university cumann in 1966. He admitted that he had smoked marijuana while at university in the United States. However, media reports said he was "spared the intense grilling Miriam O'Callaghan meted out to some of the others" during the Prime Time debate. Higgins promised he would be a neutral president if elected and not be a "handmaiden" to the government. The Labour Party's budget for

1798-580: The lord mayor of London , Alan Yarrow . In December 2014, Higgins made a week-long state visit to China. In November 2016, Higgins received criticism from some sections of the Irish media for praising Fidel Castro , saying in a statement that he learned of Castro's death with "great sadness". On 25 August 2018, Higgins received Pope Francis at Áras an Uachtaráin during the Pope's visit to Ireland . On 10 July 2018, Higgins announced that he would stand for

1860-693: The state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II . On 24 January 2023, Higgins began a five-day state visit to Senegal, his first time in Africa since 2014. While visiting Senegal, Higgins met with Senegalese president Macky Sall . On 13 April, Higgins received U.S. President Joe Biden at Áras an Uachtaráin during his four-day visit to the island of Ireland . On 28 April, Higgins made a speech from Áras an Uachtaráin in which he criticised economists for being "obsessed" with economic growth and consumption, and for promoting " neoliberalism ". The same speech urged economists to be more environmentally conscious and to imagine

1922-559: The 2001 Act. After the 2011 general election , the new Fine Gael–Labour coalition 's programme for government promised reform and rationalisation of local authorities, both to enhance democratic accountability and local power, and as part of a broader range of spending cuts in response to the state's ongoing financial crisis . In 2011 and 2012, local commissions recommended the mergers of three pairs of neighbouring first-tier local authorities: North and South Tipperary, Waterford City and County , and Limerick City and County . In 2012,

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1984-744: The Act's long title : The merged North Tipperary and South Tipperary was a county called Tipperary , restoring the county's administrative unity for the first time since 1838. The merged Limerick and Waterford areas were designated a "city and county", otherwise equivalent to a county. Except in the Dublin Region, all counties (including the two "cities and counties") were subdivided into two or more second-tier units called "municipal districts". The districts which include Limerick and Waterford cities are "metropolitan districts" and those including an existing borough are "borough districts"; both names conferring

2046-635: The American Indiana University Bloomington with a Master of Arts degree in sociology. He also briefly attended the University of Manchester . In his academic career, Higgins was a statutory lecturer in the Department of Political Science and Sociology at UCG and was a visiting professor at Southern Illinois University . He resigned his academic posts to concentrate fully on his political career. Higgins

2108-474: The Border region. The EU Operational Committee has a similar, but broader, composition and assists the Regional Authority in matters relating to EU assistance and reviewing the implementation of various EU Operational Programmes in a region. Each Regional Authority had a Director, assisted by a number of policy and administrative staff. The Regional Authorities had specific responsibility for: On 1 June 2014,

2170-591: The Dáil at the 1987 general election and held his seat until the 2011 general election . In 1993, he joined the cabinet as Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht . During his period as minister he scrapped Section 31 of the Broadcasting Act , re-established the Irish Film Board and set up the Irish language television station, Teilifís na Gaeilge (later renamed TG4 ). He was appointed to

2232-496: The Labour Party front bench in 2000. In 2003, Higgins succeeded Proinsias De Rossa in the symbolic position of the president of the Labour Party, while continuing as the party's spokesman on foreign affairs. Higgins indicated his interest in contesting the 2004 presidential election for the Labour Party. The party decided on 16 September 2004 against running a candidate in the election, seeing Mary McAleese as unbeatable. In October 2010, he announced he would not be standing at

2294-670: The Paycock at the Lyttelton Theatre . He made his first official visit to his alma mater NUI Galway on 24 February, where he opened an autism centre. On 21 March 2012, Higgins was announced as sole patron of the RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra . Addressing a conference organised by youth organisation Foróige on 24 March 2012, Higgins described homophobia and racism in Ireland as a "blight on society". In January 2012, Higgins agreed to become

2356-464: The Red Cow" and "The Ass ", an ode to a donkey. Higgins has campaigned for human rights and written of conflict in many parts of the world, including such areas as Nicaragua, Chile, Cambodia, El Salvador, Iraq and Somalia. He spoke in the Dáil in defence of the 2010 Gaza Freedom Flotilla . In recognition of his work for peace with justice in many parts of the world, he became the first recipient of

2418-560: The Regional Assemblies: The members of the Regional Assemblies are nominated from the elected members of the local authorities in the region. The Regional Authorities were established in 1994. In 1999, this structure was supplemented with the addition of Regional Assemblies. The financing of the activities of the Regional Authorities was largely borne by their constituent local authorities. To assist

2480-574: The Regional Authority in undertaking its functions, each has an Operational Committee and an EU Operational Committee. The Operational Committee is chaired by the Cathaoirleach (Chairperson) of the Regional Authority and is composed of senior management from the constituent local authorities and other relevant public sector agencies operating in the region. It helps prepare the work of the Regional Authority and assists and advises it on matters relating to its functions. Also, each Regional Authority has

2542-879: The Seán MacBride Peace Prize of the International Peace Bureau in Helsinki in 1992. He was a noted critic of U.S. foreign policy under the Ronald Reagan administration. In 2005, in response to a column for the Irish Independent by Kevin Myers about the riots then erupting across immigrant areas in France and Britain, he said "the contents of his column today go beyond his usually crafted cowardice, staying one step on

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2604-583: The bill became law the AMAI merged with the Association of County & City Councils to form the Association of Irish Local Government. The bill was introduced as the Local Government Bill 2013; the word "Reform" was inserted into its title at committee stage by the select subcommittee on the Environment, Community and Local Government. On 28 April 2014, Mattie McGrath TD applied to

2666-567: The campaign was within €320,000. On 29 October 2011, two days after the presidential election was held, Higgins was declared the winner with a total of 1,007,104 votes, far more than any Irish politician in the history of the republic. Thousands of people lined the streets of Galway to welcome him home the following day. International media coverage of his win reported his humble background, poetry and intellect, with The Washington Post noting "local satirists sometimes depict him as an elf, hobbit or leprechaun talking in riddles and verse". He

2728-655: The debate brought about by Higgins's comments. On 6 May, Higgins was at the Coronation of Charles III and Camilla , marking the first time that a President of Ireland had attended the coronation of a British monarch. On 29 February 2024, Higgins was taken to hospital as a precaution, after complaining of feeling unwell. On 24 April, Higgins confirmed he had suffered a mild stroke . Higgins appointed his Council of State nominees on 6 January 2012 for this first term as president. The nominees were: Higgins's nominees for his second term of office are: As well as having

2790-442: The functions of the Regional Authorities were transferred to the two Regional Assemblies as established in 1999, to create a single regional system. From 1 January 2015, these were replaced by three Regional Assemblies, with the former Regional Authority regions being succeeded by strategic planning areas, wholly within the Regional Assemblies. Local Government Reform Act 2014 The Local Government Reform Act 2014 (No. 1)

2852-510: The government on the grounds that it would pre-empt its own report, published in July 2017, on "potential measures to boost local government leadership and accountability". Michael D. Higgins Michael Daniel Higgins ( Irish : Mícheál Dónal Ó hUigínn ; born 18 April 1941) is an Irish politician, poet, broadcaster and sociologist who has been serving as the ninth president of Ireland since 2011. Entering national politics through

2914-488: The interests of democracy" not to obstruct Norris's attempts to get onto the ballot at the last moment, adding that the nomination criteria were "outdated". Higgins was confronted by former Tara mines workers while canvassing in County Meath . The workers were upset about their pensions being cut. Higgins was also pursued by his past links to Fianna Fáil, and admitted on 13 October that he had been elected chairman of

2976-498: The life of Noel Browne , for RTÉ , has also been screened. Higgins has had poems published in a number of periodicals, as well as publishing four collections of his poetry, including The Betrayal (1990), his second book of poems The Season of Fire (1993) and his latest book An Arid Season (2004). His personal notes and work books reside at the National Library of Ireland . Among Higgins's poems are "The death of

3038-610: The patron of Clans of Ireland , including its Order of Merit. On the president's behalf, Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport Leo Varadkar , awarded "Companionship" in this Order of Clans of Ireland to several nominees at a ceremony in the Mansion House, Dublin on 28 April 2012. On 11 May 2012, he became the 28th Freeman of Galway. In June 2012, nonprofit housing organisation Habitat for Humanity Ireland announced that Higgins would be their sole Patron. In October 2012, Higgins and his wife Sabina went to South America for

3100-510: The power to veto subsequent appointments and to remove a chief executive for "stated misbehaviour". Part 11 of the act provided for a process leading to a directly elected mayor for the Dublin Metropolitan Area . This required approval from the councils of the four local authorities in the area, namely the city of Dublin and the counties of South Dublin , Fingal , and Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown . Three supported it, but Fingal County Council voted 16–6 to reject it on 31 March 2014, terminating

3162-533: The president, Mary van Lieshout, who formed part of the management team in Áras an Uachtaráin under Secretary General Adrian O'Neill, resigned in November 2013. The departure raised criticism over presidential management of the team. The presidential Christmas messages delivered by Higgins from 2011 to 2013 did not mention Christianity or religion, which was criticised by the Defence Forces ' chaplain in

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3224-436: The process. The Association of Municipal Authorities of Ireland (AMAI), which represented the town and borough councils abolished under the act, objected to the bill. It later published guidelines for the transition to the new structure. In March 2014, after the AMAI decided not to challenge the Act in court, another group called Former Local Authority Members Éire (FLAME) was founded by members of abolished councils. After

3286-540: The proposal. The Irish Independent reported in November 2015 that the Fianna Fáil manifesto for the 2016 election would promise to restore town councils. In 2015, an advisory group and forum began reviewing local government; based on their work up to May 2016, Simon Coveney the then Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government said, "the revised structures are generally operating well but will need more time to bed down fully". The programme of

3348-399: The right for the chairperson of the district council to be called " mayor ". Each district comprises one (or, occasionally, more than one) local electoral area; the district councillors also serve as the area's county councillors. The position of county/city manager" was replaced by that of " Chief Executive ". Existing managers were the initial chief executives, with local authorities gaining

3410-584: The safe side of prosecution for incitement to hatred or racism." Higgins has voiced his support for the Campaign for the Establishment of a United Nations Parliamentary Assembly , an organisation which campaigns for democratic reformation of the United Nations, and the creation of a more accountable international political system. Higgins's eclectic mix of interests also extends to sport; he

3472-488: The service and decided it would be "inappropriate to attend". Pope Francis described Higgins as a "wise man of today" during an audience in the Vatican. On 15 June 2022, Higgins described housing in Ireland as "our great, great failure", saying "It isn't a crisis anymore — it is a disaster." On 19 September 2022, Higgins was among 500 presidents, prime ministers, foreign royal family members and dignitaries who attended

3534-769: Was a lieutenant with the Charleville Company, 3rd Battalion, 2nd Cork Brigade of the Irish Republican Army . John, along with his two brothers Peter and Michael, had been active participants in the Irish War of Independence . When John's father's health grew poor, with alcohol abuse as a contributing factor, John sent Michael, aged five, and his four-year-old brother to live on his unmarried uncle and aunt's farm near Newmarket-on-Fergus , County Clare. His elder twin sisters remained in Limerick. He

3596-403: Was educated at Ballycar National School, County Clare and St. Flannan's College , Ennis . As an undergraduate at University College Galway (UCG), he served as vice-auditor of the college's Literary and Debating Society in 1963–64, and rose to the position of auditor in the 1964–65 academic year. He also served as president of UCG Students' Union in 1964–65. In 1967, Higgins graduated from

3658-515: Was elected to Seanad Éireann in 2016. He has a Bernese Mountain Dog named Misneach (Courage). He previously had two Bernese dogs named Síoda and Bród , who died in 2020 and 2023 respectively. Higgins originally joined Fianna Fáil in UCG while a mature student and was elected its branch chairman in 1966; he switched to the Labour Party shortly thereafter. He was a Labour candidate in

3720-407: Was included in the 2001 Act but repealed in 2003 without having been invoked. The idea of an executive mayor for Greater Dublin was given impetus by the establishment of a Mayor of London , and was promoted by the Green Party in the 2007–11 government . A bill to that effect was introduced in 2010, lapsing when the Dáil was dissolved for the 2011 election. The main provisions are summarised in

3782-489: Was re-elected at the February 1982 election ; he lost his seat at the November 1982 election (blaming his loss in part on his opposition to the Eighth Amendment ), but returned to the Seanad when he was elected by the National University constituency. He served as Mayor of Galway on two occasions, 1982–1983 and 1991–1992. Within the Labour Party during the 1980s he was one of the main figures, along with Emmet Stagg , who opposed going into coalition. Higgins returned to

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3844-421: Was the president of the Labour Party from 2003 to 2011, until he resigned following his election as president of Ireland. Higgins has used his time in office as president to address issues concerning justice , social equality , social inclusion , anti- sectarianism , anti-racism , and reconciliation. He made the first state visit by an Irish president to the United Kingdom in April 2014. Higgins ran for

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