In the wake of attacks on Indians in Ireland, the country’s President Michael D. Higgins has praised the Indian community for its contributions to every aspect of Irish life, including medicine, business, culture and society.

Emphasizing that the Dublin-New Delhi ties are “neither recent nor superficial,” he recalled his meeting with India’s External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar early this year. “…we discussed how much our histories share the experience of paths towards independence, the role of Irish woman Margaret Cousins in establishing the All India Women’s Conference, the exchange of expertise as both countries drafted and agreed our Constitutions, and the fostering of diplomatic and political relationships over the decades, relationships which remain vibrant today,” said Higgins.

While addressing concerns over the recent violent attacks on the Indian community in Ireland, Higgins advised that shared spaces such as online platforms are also protected from “messages of hate or incitement to violence”.

Higgins said, “These despicable attacks stand in direct contradiction to the values we hold dear as a people. That anyone in Ireland could be drawn into such behaviour is utterly unacceptable and must be condemned without reservation. Whether driven by ignorance or by malice, it is essential to recognise the harm these acts inflict.” – editor@nrifocus.com