November 24 the Irish World

As President Michael D Higgins completes his first full year in office he speaks to the Irish World ahead of his first official visit to Liverpool and Manchester about how he believes Ireland is about to undergo profound social change. Following a six-month consultation with young Irish people from all walks of life and against a backdrop of public dismay, and outrage, at recent events.

"One of the things about the thousands of people on the streets in the last few days…is these isues are being participated in by youbg men as well as young women so they're not simply feminist issues.

"I believe myself that we are in a period of such intense change that the banking system has lost trust and it has to be recreated and the institutions of governance have to rebuild trust.

"What is facinating is the chalenge is being taken up by young people, that the chalenge is being taken up by others, by community groups too.

"I think you're going to see a very serious challenge to the last vestiges of authoritarianism in institutional and professional structures that were previously unquestioned – and that goes right across the the spectrum from the economy to the Church," he says.