Refugees

Ireland has a ‘moral duty’ to asylum seekers - Higgins

The president said the parallels of the displacement caused by the Irish Famine and the ongoing refugee crisis ‘must not be lost on us’

  • May 21, 2023
President Michael D Higgins: “The strong commitment of the Irish people to humanitarian aid and relief is, of course, strongly related to our own past struggle with hunger, engrained in our collective memory”. Picture: Maxwell Photography

Ireland has a moral duty to honour its commitments to those who seek asylum and refuge, President Michael D Higgins has said.

The president was addressing the National Famine Commemoration which took place in Milford, Co Donegal.

The ceremony also included military honours and a wreath-laying ceremony in remembrance of all those who died during the Irish famine of the mid-19th century.

President Higgins told the event it was an opportunity to remember the tragedy ...