Skip to content
Support Us

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

President Higgins addressing the Inter-American Court of Human Rights last night Fennells Photography

El último día: President concludes Central America tour today

President Michael D Higgins brings the curtain down on a landmark tour of Central America with some final meetings in Costa Rica today.

PRESIDENT MICHAEL D Higgins begins the final day of his lengthy tour of Central America later with sustainable development and a trip to a rainforest on the agenda.

Higgins has spent over a week touring Mexico and El Salvador and has been in Costa Rica since Saturday, taking in a number of events including a meeting with the country’s president Laura Chinchilla.

Today the President will meet with the Costa Rican Minister of Environment, René Castro, with sustainable development and biodiversity on the agenda.

Higgins will also undertake a visit to part of a Costa Rican rainforest before he and his wife, Sabina, return to Dublin tomorrow.

Last night the President addressed Inter-American Court of Human Rights in San Jose where he praised Ireland’s “spirit of hope” and “spirit of renewal”.

He said the crisis has forced citizens of this country to “reflect more deeply on the importance of sustainable development and human rights as the cornerstones of a caring and flourishing society”.

Higgins was also full of praise for Central America given its troubled past as he concludes a historic visit to the region which has included a large trade summit in Mexico and a poignant return to El Salvador.

He said: “Resilience is a word that has come to my mind again and again during my visit to Central America.

“Your region of the world has suffered much, both in the distant and recent past, and it would be facile to underestimate the many challenges which you continue to face. Yet everyone I meet greets me with warmth, energy and hope for the future.”

The President and his wife, Sabina, will return to Dublin tomorrow.

Like politics? Then why not ‘Like’ TheJournal.ie’s Politics page?

Column: President Higgins returned to a changed El Salvador today

PICS: President Michael D Higgins meets Brazilian legend Pelé

Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

Close
16 Comments
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute John F
    Favourite John F
    Report
    Oct 30th 2013, 10:07 AM

    What purpose does it serve to let Micky swan around South America? Living the life of luxury while he preaches his Socialist Bullshit here in Ireland? Be gone you fool, we don’t need a president

    34
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Aunty Simmonite
    Favourite Aunty Simmonite
    Report
    Oct 30th 2013, 10:23 AM

    They don’t call them Champagne Socialists for nothing.

    26
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Tony Le Blanc
    Favourite Tony Le Blanc
    Report
    Oct 30th 2013, 11:52 AM

    ‘Micky Swan’…. I shall be using that in conversation today.

    Couldn’t agree more, if we want to send out trade missions then lets send out experienced business people, not this pointless twerp.

    14
    See 1 more reply ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Nora Assinder
    Favourite Nora Assinder
    Report
    Oct 30th 2013, 1:54 PM

    Business people! You must be joking. Look where they got us with their greed.

    3
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Martin Gorry
    Favourite Martin Gorry
    Report
    Oct 30th 2013, 9:54 AM

    And this little pointless junket cost us how much?, more than some struggling families have to live on in a year. Time to cull these wasteful political positions. I’ve no doubt the President is a genuine and honest man, but we simply cannot afford the baggage while being picked clean by an inept political system stretching back decades.

    28
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute neeneee
    Favourite neeneee
    Report
    Oct 30th 2013, 9:44 AM

    What a waste of time and money

    23
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Johnny Downes
    Favourite Johnny Downes
    Report
    Oct 30th 2013, 9:58 AM

    Agree. A total waste of money, and Joe Costello – Minister for Nothing, along for the ride, visiting a banana plant- how apt coming from a Banana Republic!

    26
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Fergal Reid
    Favourite Fergal Reid
    Report
    Oct 30th 2013, 11:13 AM

    Glad to see the mentalists didn’t let this go. Head of State in foreign visit shocker! These things have been going on since the days of King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba. Calm down, lads. This is part of his job.

    16
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute James Darby
    Favourite James Darby
    Report
    Oct 30th 2013, 10:37 AM

    Small man makes big impression.

    14
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Dermot Ryan
    Favourite Dermot Ryan
    Report
    Oct 30th 2013, 10:50 AM

    Seeing as impeachment of presidents is in the news today , when will this president be impeached for failure to protect our Constitution?
    Wake up Dail Eireann or loose your jobs !

    12
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ian Walsh
    Favourite Ian Walsh
    Report
    Oct 30th 2013, 12:28 PM

    It seems el Presidente has been on a global junket since being elected. I would be interested to know how much travelling he has done compared to previous presidents.

    12
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Tom Smith
    Favourite Tom Smith
    Report
    Oct 30th 2013, 1:58 PM

    Just hope he’s not stopped at Dublin airport with a load of coke in his hair bun.

    7
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Arthur Callaghan
    Favourite Arthur Callaghan
    Report
    Oct 30th 2013, 11:12 AM

    our president looks like Doc out of back to the future :)

    7
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Jim Hartnett
    Favourite Jim Hartnett
    Report
    Oct 30th 2013, 1:58 PM

    An awful lot of angry red hands supporting Higgins and his junket. Genuine question, what would they have done if he had to fly back to nationalise debt as he did when at a gig in Rome some time back?

    4
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Aunty Simmonite
    Favourite Aunty Simmonite
    Report
    Oct 30th 2013, 2:25 PM

    I wonder will he bring us back a parrot?

    3
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Kevin Collins
    Favourite Kevin Collins
    Report
    Oct 30th 2013, 7:36 PM

    *La ultíma día* surely??

    2
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.
JournalTv
News in 60 seconds