President sorry for Dame jibe

Spokesman no offence says Higgins meant by 'casual remark'

- LOUISE BURNE

PRESIDENT Michael D Higgins has apologised to the chairwoman of the State’s forum on international security for remarks he made about her being a Dame. 

The Irish Mirror has learned Prof Louise Richardson could be paid nearly €23,000 for her work, bringing the total cost of the four-day event to nearly €200,000.

Although the forum does not start until Thursday, it has already found itself embroiled in controversy.

In an interview with the Business Post, Mr Higgins expressed concerns that Ireland is “drifting” towards NATO and warned the country was “playing with fire” and must avoid “burying ourselves in other people’s agendas”.

He was criticised for remarking on Prof Richardson’s title which she received in 2022 for her work on securing the Oxford-AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine partnership.