Ordinary people must be part of recovery, Higgins says

The economic recovery must extend to all sections of the population in a way that is socially inclusive, President Michael D Higgins has said during the first day of his State visit to Portugal.

Speaking after a meeting with Portuguese president Cavaco Silva at Belem Palace in Lisbon, Mr Higgins said both Ireland and Portugal had experienced difficult economic times and were now undergoing a recovery.

“It is important that ordinary people have a chance to be sure they get basic services, that they have a floor under them, and that they have a chance to partake in be involved in any progress that is made,” he said, noting that the problem of unemployment, and particularly youth unemployment remained across the European Union

“It is possible to have fiscal prudence but also to have social cohesion.”

‘Critical moment’

Both presidents also discussed the challenges of migration and climate change during their meeting, expressing their hope for a “positive outcome” to the COP21 climate talks in Paris. “We are at a critical moment in the multilateral system,” Mr Higgins said, where “the intermingling of development, global hunger, migration and movements of people” needs to be recognised.

The State visit to Portugal is President Higgins’ fourth State visit since he assumed office.

The President, who is accompanied by his wife Sabina, will partake in a number of political engagements over the coming days, including meetings with the recently-appointed prime minister Antonio Santos da Costa.

A State dinner in honour of Mr Higgins and Mrs Higgins will be hosted by Mr Silva and his wife Doutora Maria Cavaco Silva this evening at Ajuda Palace in the capital.

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs James Reilly is accompanying Mr Higgins on the four-day trip.

Portugal, a country of 10 million people, recently elected a left-wing government led by the main Socialist Party following an October general election. Like Ireland, the country took part in a three-year multi-billion euro bailout at the height of the euro zone crisis, but emerged from its bailout programme in mid-2014.

Mr Higgins also visited the Monastery of Jeronimos , a late-fifteenth century Unesco World Heritage Site, where he laid a wreath at the tomb of Luis de Camoes, the 16th century Portuguese poet.