President Michael D Higgins is facing allegations from the Israeli embassy that he leaked a congratulatory letter he penned for Iran’s new president, Masoud Pezeshkian. The letter, which was criticised by a few politicians when it appeared on social media last month, underscored President Higgins’s belief that the stability, co-operation, and peaceful resolution of conflicts are even more crucial than ever in the Middle East. He noted that he expected Iran to play a key role in achieving this due to its rich cultural history.
The Israeli embassy voiced regret that the letter did not denounce Iranian funding for terrorism and the incitement of radical groups such as Hizbullah, Hamas, and the Houthis. Speaking in New York at a United Nations function, President Higgins stressed that his letter was standard, similar to letters he had sent to other world leaders, highlighting the urgency of peace in the Middle East and the return of diplomacy in conflict resolution.
Regarding how the letter became public, he disclosed: “Indeed, it was certainly the Israeli embassy”, but could not explain how it happened. The Israeli embassy in Dublin rejected the accusation, terming it as not only baseless but slanderous and highly inflammatory. They pointed out that the author needed to defend his letter which did not mention the threat Iran posed to the region, its calls for Israel’s destruction, and support for terrorist groups like Hamas and Hizbullah, and its human rights violations against its own citizens.
Earlier, President Higgins disagreed with Taoiseach Simon Harris’s comments linking the Irish housing and homelessness crisis to the increasing levels of immigration, stating he saw no connection between them.
In a recent interview with a Sunday newspaper, Mr Harris expressed his concern over the significant influx of immigrants to the country and its ramifications. He acknowledged the public’s understanding that the rate of homelessness is deeply influenced by the increasing number of individuals seeking protection, seeking asylum in our nation, and aspiring for a fresh start. While he emphasised the numerous benefits of immigration, he didn’t shy away from admitting the challenges it poses.
Amidst these comments, Mr Higgins was questioned, in the aftermath of his UN speech, about his stance on whether immigration has induced the problem of homelessness. He responded negatively but insisted, as he had previously, on a certain view concerning housing strategies. He criticised the current methods as being restricted and adversely affected due to being reactive to market changes.
He decried the failure to directly building houses despite the State owning land, possessing a cadre of construction workers, and being receptive to hiring foreign labour for miscellaneous jobs. However, he clarified that he held no role in governing the housing policy, promising to express his opinion more intensively.
Critics of the Taoiseach were quick to latch onto his remarks, with Social Democrats TD Gary Gannon demanding that Mr Harris should elucidate and rectify his statement. He justified that while the Taoiseach is eligible to have personal beliefs, he cannot manipulate facts to suit his narrative. He emphasised that people seeking international protection don’t contribute to homeless statistics. Rather, only those who reside in emergency lodging are included in the count.
Persons Before Profit TD Paul Murphy accused the Taoiseach’s comments of being deceptive, invalid, and risky. Contemporary data shows an excess of 14,400 individuals experiencing homelessness.
When asked to evaluate the Government’s management of the housing crisis, President Higgins declined to comment on any specific administration. Regardless, he did not hesitate to criticise the lack of planning and inadequate resources for the housing sector. Citing the distressing scenario of thousands of homeless families, he unequivocally labelled the current state of affairs as a failure. He particularly highlighted that the absence of sufficient planning officers in local authorities was detrimental.
He further commented that certain governmental initiatives in the housing sector were aimed at enticing the market.