President tells of 'bogus reference'

President Michael D Higgins has joked about causing controversy through unscripted remarks.

Opening the Irish Hotels Federation annual conference in Kilkenny Mr Higgins who has been the centre of controversy on a number of occasions in recent weeks, told delegates: "I have to be extremely careful about my departures form scripts given the sensitivity of not those who matter, but perhaps those who chatter."

In recent weeks Mr Higgins' remarks on Government plans for to ratify the EU fiscal treaty caused controversy when he said if there was no referendum he may refer any legislation on the issue to the Council of State.

Mr Higgins also caused controversy in London where the Irish Post said he had "delivered a huge snub" to Irish people living in Britain in an interview with the newspaper. Irish Ambassador to London Bobby McDonagh, wrote to the paper saying the report had been "misleading and disrespectful".

Mr Higgins whose remarks to the conference were greeted with laughter and applause also told the hoteliers he had particular reasons to be grateful to the sector having worked in hotels during his student years. "I moved from serving drink all the way through I have to tell you, to full silver service and I have a bogus reference that describes me as a wine butler."

The conference is also being addressed by Minister for sport Leo Varadkar this afternoon. Mr Varadkar is to announce some €3.4 million in Fáilte Ireland funding for a series of high-profile international tourism and sports events.

Mr Varadkar told The Irish Times each event had potential to attract many thousands of international visitors to Ireland and support jobs in the hospitality sector.

Remarking one job is created for every 60 extra visitors to Ireland, Mr Varadkar said the events “will showcase Ireland around the world, beaming positive images into millions of living rooms. Our goal is to convert these viewers into visitors to Ireland, and use the events to ensure that Ireland features on travel itineraries."

The events are:

• Volvo Ocean Race (Galway)

• Tall Ships 2012 (Dublin)

• The Irish Open Golf (Portrush)

• Ladies Irish Open Golf (Meath)

• ISAF Youth World Sailing (Dun Laoghaire)

• Bavaria City Racing (Dublin)

Mr Varadkar said The Volvo Ocean Race, the Tall Ships, and Bavaria City Racing would “show the world that that a small country like Ireland can host big events in style. The festivals and events held in 2010 attracted some 433,000 overseas visitors, generating €448 million in economic activity and supporting 9,000 jobs,’ he added.