President Higgins Has Spoken To Mark International Women’s Day

President Higgins has spoken at Áras An Uachtarán to mark International Women's Day.

Among a number of issues he highlighted was the issue of domestic violence of which he said:

"Domestic violence is an outright negation of the dignity and the rights of women. Our collective journey towards the full enjoyment of women’s rights will never be complete if those abuses of the gravest sort are tolerated, if silence is allowed to prevail around them. This is why I am so delighted to have this opportunity to pay tribute, on this special day in the international calendar, to so many organisations and groups across Ireland who are committed to speaking up against domestic violence and to supporting women in breaking free from the cycle of anguish."

President Higgins also spoke of the recent revelations of the mass graves in Tuam of which he expressed his horror:

The recent horrifying revelations of a mass grave of babies in Tuam, discovered as a result of the relentless work of local historian, Catherine Corless, is another necessary step in blowing open the locked doors of a hidden Ireland and we are challenged to consider how the reprehensible attitudes that were held towards so called “unmarried women” and so-called “illegitimate babies” came to be held.

Some very forward-thinking and most welcome views from the President we're sure you'll agree. You can read the full speech here.

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