President uses funds at his disposal respectfully

MUCH was made the President’s Higgins supposed profligacy during this year’s Presidential election.

This came about due to the President’s refusal to disclose the accounts during the election, saying that the review would be published after the election.

With nothing else to really go against the President some of the candidates attacked on this aspect of his tenure in office, claiming excessive spending and use of the government jet, with Peter Casey even ridiculously claiming that the State paid for the grooming of President Higgins’ dogs.

Throughout the President remained dignified and respectful Well last Thursday the ‘Presidency in Review, 2011-2018’ was published, providing a comprehensive overview of the work and expenditure of the Office of the President of Ireland over the last seven years and revealed a €238,443 underspend from the 1938 Allowance will be returned to the Exchequer by the end of the year. This is a cumulative underspend from the 2011-2018 period of the Presidency.

During the first term of his Presidency, President Higgins welcomed approximately 140,000 people to Áras an Uachtaráin.

Áras an Uachtaráin also confirmed that the Presidential Review will be published each year during President Higgins’ second term.

So we now know, long after the campaign, long after the mud was thrown, that the President is not profligate with public monies but responsible, prudent and good value for money.