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SABINA HIGGINS HAS said she condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine from the outset, saying she was “dismayed” that people took issue with her “plea for peace” in a letter to the Irish Times.
The wife of president Michael D Higgins has come under fire in recent days for a letter she wrote to the paper, in which she called for ceasefire negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, with a view to restoring peace between the two countries.
In a statement this evening, she said: “For the last 11 years since coming to Áras an Uachtaráin as the wife of the President, I have continued my long standing interests on a number of important issues. Since 2014, I have had a dedicated section on the President.ie website.
“This section contains details of activities I have been undertaking including speeches and work towards the implementation of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, health issues, breastfeeding, issues affecting the Traveller Community, human rights, supporting the arts and a range of other issues.
Last week I had been asked about my letter to the Irish Times, which I had written in a personal capacity, by a number of people who had missed it, and had not been able to access it online. I therefore put it on my dedicated section of the website as I have done for the last number of years
The letter was published on Mrs Higgins’s section of the president.ie website – it was not visible on any other part of the website. To view the article, a user had to click on the ‘Sabina Higgins’ link from the main page.
She continued: “Having put my letter up, I subsequently took it down when I saw it being presented as not being from myself, but from the general President.ie website.
“I have from its outset strongly condemned the illegal Russian invasion of Ukraine and I cannot be but dismayed that people would find anything unacceptable in a plea for peace and negotiations when the future of humanity is threatened by war, global warming and famine.”
The letter, published on 27 July in response to the paper’s editorial on the war, said: “Until the world persuades President Vladimir Putin of Russia and President Volodymyr Zelenskiy of Ukraine to agree to a ceasefire and negotiations, the long haul of terrible war will go on. How can there be any winner?”
The Irish Times editorial “did not encourage any ceasefire negotiations that might lead towards a peace settlement between the Russians, the Ukrainian forces and the separatists”, she wrote.
The letter was met with backlash from critics who suggested it was drawing an equivalence between the actions of Ukraine and Russia.
Those critics included Ukrainian MP Kira Rudik, who described it as “under-informed” in a Newstalk interview on Friday, as well as several backbench TDs and Senators.
On Friday, Fine Gael Senator John McGahon pointed out that the Sabina Higgins’ letter had been published on the official website of The President and said it was inappropriate for the letter to be posted on the presidential website.
It was shortly thereafter deleted from the presidential website.
It is inappropriate for a letter purporting such views, endorsed by the Russian Ambassador, to be published on https://t.co/Rjs6ihhpAi
— Senator John McGahon (@John_McGahon) July 29, 2022
The foreign policy of this country is set by the Irish Government, not the presidency, and this Government stands unequivocally behind Ukraine. pic.twitter.com/8zWTfGgSQd
The president yesterday released a statement through a spokesperson reiterating his own stance on the conflict but he has not responded to criticism of his wife’s letter to The Irish Times or provided an explanation of why it was published on his official website – and then removed.
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Yes for a cat. No for a goldfish.
@Ben McArthur: best answer.
@Ben McArthur: what about a snake or a tarantula?
I don’t normally go to bed with my pets but 2 or 3 days a week I wake up with a snake in the bed
@Government Sachs: PMSL
@Government Sachs: a half inch snake you mean?
No pets but I’ve brought quite a few stray dogs home from the night club. And a whale this one disastrous night.
@Leon: stay classy
No choice with a labradoodle. If he wants to lay on the bed he will and he will make himself so heavy there’s no chance of moving him
@Allison Smith: oh god I would love a labradoodle. They seem to be the friendliest dogs, and they’re the only ones that don’t have me covered in a rash.
I’m so jealous!!!!
So friendly. He’d let anyone in the house.
@Allison Smith: try shutting the door.
I like to think this is the reason I haven’t been laid since 2005.
So Ancient Egypt dates from 8,000 BCE. Ya learn something everyday. In this case I Iearned you don’t know when Ancient Egypt started…
@David Stapleton: so far 9 people know their history… 10 including you
@David Stapleton: Cats were previously thought to have been domesticated by the Egyptians but now there is evidence that they were domesticated way before them, almost 10,000 years ago. Author obviously knew the Egyptian angle and now the 10000 is floating around the web so they put the two together. Imo.
I’ll have whatever I want in my bed.
It’s people’s own personal choice.
May be ok for toy dogs to sleep in your bed but, not my German shepherd.
@Gerry Fitz: wind up, clockwork toy dogs?
20% don’t want them in the bed but they sneak in? Cat burglars?!
Letting pets sleep in your bed is a terrible idea. They become very needy. Pets need boundaries. Also anytime you aren’t there it is then difficult for the pet to sleep, they become anxious etc
@Jill: Correct, dogs need to know their place in the Family. So many kids bitten and dogs put down because the owners confused the dog by allowing them to be in charge. It’s the main cause of animal aggression in households.
@Jill; unless it’s a cat. Normal rules go out the window.
My partner and I and our labra-border-line-collie-Yorkshire terrorist-cross enjoyed sleeping together for warmth, comfort, cosiness and, as the above, the dog that is, slept between us, it was a very effective contraceptive. Unfortunately, these days one of us is habitually suffering from sleep apnoea and it’s worse than white noise. Each to their own bed/room.
@Paul; assuming it isn’t the dog, did the person suffering wake up feeling like they were a bit short of breath and a bit panicked in the mornings?
@Spilt Pint: what goes on in the bedroom between consenting adults/pets should stay within the bedroom. Now that we’re in separate beds/rooms what goes on stays within the house.
@Paul; on second reading I realise my comment was a bit “Carry On” but genuinely wondering about symptoms of sleep apnoea.
People who allow pets in the bed are disgusting germ ridden bacteria factories who should be avoided at all costs.
@Tommy Browne: And, they also tend to suffer less from respiratory illnesses, unlike those who like to live in sterile environments.
@Tommy; if I thought it would help me avoid you, I’d share a bed with Dublin Zoo.
@Spilt Pint:
I’d say you’d feel right at home there.
@Tommy Browne: So are humans? I rather have an animal in bed than most people?
My pet sleeps wit me most nights,
Then goes off to work….
@Eileen Down: Awww, that’s so sweet.
Was this poll not alreadly posted about 3months ago?
Apparently it hasn’t been put to bed yet.
I see no problem but my cat gave up sleeping in my bed because I was too restless. She went back to her own bed.
me local kebab shop serves up great labradoodles.
Does it, yeah?
Oh ye old tales of cats draining your life force whilst sleeping on your chest
I like to have a pussy in bed
Sometimes an old bat manages to sneak in
@Thaddus T Sawballs: in other words your Belly boxing around the clock.
@Thaddus T Sawballs: you wish!
@Thaddus; I imagine that’s a goal you can accomplish alone
I sleep with a massive Python by my side.Oh shit,that’s not a pet actually.Oops!
@mark kenny: you should have gone to Specsavers….
@Gus Sheridan:
Get your green eyed monster off my,well……monster!
Another stupid poll
Back then they even had sex with relatives, bestiality who knows lol.
have your say