Since his statement on the death of former Cuban president Fidel Castro at the weekend, Michael D Higgins has faced the most sustained period of criticism since his arrival at Aras an Uachtarain.
Although many people have been happy that he got the balance right between praising Castro's achievements and drawing attention to the less savoury aspects of his rule, others felt he should have been much more critical of the human rights abuses that marked the former President's reign.
Socialist activist, Brendan Ogle and writer Ruth Dudley Edwards debate President Higgins's statement
