Taoiseach Micheal Martin has denied that Sabina Higgins’ letter about the war in Ukraine has caused embarrassment.
Mr Martin also said he has not spoken to President Michael D Higgins about the controversy, but hasn’t held one of his regular meetings with him since the fiasco unfolded.
The President’s wife has faced sharp criticism for a letter she had printed in the Irish Times in which she did not criticise the Russian invasion of Ukraine but called on both sides to negotiate and agree a ceasefire.
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The letter was subsequently published on the President.ie official website, before being removed.
Sabina Higgins has since said she strongly condemns the illegal Russian invasion of Ukraine. But she defended her recent comments on the war, saying she was dismayed by the criticism.
When put to him that the controversy has caused embarrassment for a number of parties involved, the Taoiseach said: “I don’t see it that way.
“First of all, I think Sabina Higgins has clarified the situation in terms of her statement and I think the President, to be fair, also reiterated his strong condemnation of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
“The Irish Government’s position has been consistent from the outset and remains the position that the invasion was both illegal and immoral and was a terrible act against the people of Ukraine.”
When asked what lessons need to be learned from the fiasco, which saw calls for President Michael D Higgins’ resignation and an explanation as to why Sabina Higgins, a private citizen, could publish on the official President’s website, Mr Martin said it was time to move on.
However, he said an informal practice has “built up” over the years whereby a spouse of a President will “go to a particular opening or adopt a particular cause.”
He said: “I think we live in a democracy too and we have to be conscious of that, people are entitled to their viewpoint.
“I think we’re all agreed on the need for peace and so there’s no argument there for the need for peace.
“I think the explanation, that’s not the first time in terms of activities or say, because we do know that a spouse of a President over the years, practice has built up where there is, or the spouse of a President may go to a particular opening, or adopt a particular cause and so on for the benefit for communities and so on so that’s been happening for quite some time so I think we need to understand that sort of informal practice that has built up over the years.”
In her letter, Ms Higgins' position contradicted the Government which has repeatedly urged Russia to withdraw from Ukraine unconditionally.
She had written that until the world persuades Russia and Ukraine to agree to a ceasefire and negotiations, "the long haul of terrible war will go on.”
Following days of controversy, she later clarified in a statement which said: "I have, from its outset, strongly condemned the illegal Russian invasion of Ukraine and I cannot be but dismayed that people would find anything unacceptable in a plea for peace and negotiations when the future of humanity is threatened by war, global warming and famine."
Speaking in Cork on Wednesday, the Taoiseach said the Government’s position “hasn’t changed nor do I believe that in terms of the Ukrainian government or people generally, I think they are well aware of our position.”
He added: “Sabina Higgins has clarified her position. I think clarity has come from the President and clarity has come form Sabina Higgins herself.
“I think everybody accepts there is no equivalence between Vladimir Putin and President Zelenskyy. Ukraine didn’t want this war, Europe didn’t want this war.
“Europe tried everything it could as did the President of the United States to prevent this war from occurring and terrible, terrible damage has been done as a result of this war.”
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