The former president Michael D Higgins has been speaking in Galway tonight at an event hosted by the Labour Party in honour of him and his wife Sabina.
The couple were being recognised for their outstanding public service and lifelong commitment to equality, culture and human rights.
He addressed a broad range of key issues including the impact of climate change, the displacement of people and the consequences of economic inequality.
He stressed the importance of activism in promoting social justice and human rights and praised activists of all ages including ones coming on board for “the world that is yet to be created”.
He spoke about the need to create maps or visual displays that show places destroyed by climate related damage so that people “can see locations that may never recover”.
Speaking about the impact of malnutrition and dehydration – especially in relation to children – he referred to food insecurity and going beyond the humanitarian response which is insufficient.
Former president Michael D Higgins speaking at the event
There was a call for the development of a programme to break food dependency by enabling local food production and exporting only surplus, to improve food sufficiency and reduce reliance on imported staples.
Mr Higgins spoke about the challenges facing democracy and described the current state of capitalism as “disastrous” with wealth concentrated among the very few.
“The question ultimately, is are you affording everyone dignity? And it is about dignity. And we must call out those who are enriching themselves by monopolising science, who are in fact insisting that there be no limit to the accumulation of wealth and also then not being accountable for their practices.
“Instead you have people saying that if you do this or that, then you’re going to have a salary that is so much greater than anybody else and that will enable you to have practices and regulations that no one else will have,” he said.
To laughter and applause he concluded: “You can keep consuming until you blow up.”
Labour Leader, Ivana Bacik attended the event along with members of the parliamentary Labour Party, party members and invited guests.