The two-time champion has posted a long statement on Instagram and X hitting out at his home country’s government over migration policy.
A couple of sentences into his post about the EU Migration Pact, he questioned whether anyone would “stand up to government and oppose this bill?” before declaring “I will!”
“For clarity also, as president, I would put forth this bill to referendum,” he said.
“Although I oppose greatly this pact, it is neither mine nor governments (sic) choice to make”.
“It is the people of Irelands choice! Always!”
Later in the post he mentions debates and a rough date for the presidential election, which he said “must take place by 11 November 2025”.
“This is the future of Ireland with me as president,” he said.
“All citizens of Ireland to have a voice and a choice on their future!”
Ireland joined the pact last year despite pushback from the country’s opposition party Sinn Fein, who put out a statement last week calling for direct action on migration internally.
“Migration policies should be decided at a state level when possible by governments who are answerable to their electorates,” said Matt Carthy, a Sinn Fein MP.
“Sinn Fein believes that Ireland’s sovereignty on migration issues should only be impinged when it is absolutely necessary to act collaboratively.”
Michael Higgins has been Ireland’s president since 2011, serving initially as a Labour representative before becoming independent in 2018.
Meanwhile, McGregor’s visit to the White House has been criticised by an Irish rape crisis charity.
