One of the best... no, the best speaker I've ever seen. Very proud to have him as my president

Amazing oratory skills, like one of the greats from the last century. He speaks with a passion that can only come from real integrity. This guy is a diamond.

Ireland is blessed to have this man.

More people like this True Irish Man, God Bless him

"We regularly insult language by saying we live in a Republic. We do not." So eloquently stated, so perfectly true.

If only we had a Labour party with this sort of conviction. That would be a party worth voting for!

Damn he is an impressive speaker. Just heard of him for the first time but that was awesome!

You won't find a more eloquent defence of the concept of a minimum wage than this. I fucking love this man.

what a boss

Shit brought a tear to my eye. Right on Brother!! We could use some more people like this in government.... C'mon world,... Please wake up and hear this stuff!

GREAT! Thank you very much for the speech, Mr. Higgins!

Absolutely brilliant!

Higgins you beauty

He is amazing!

The test of our progress is not whether we add more to the abundance of those who have much it is whether we provide enough for those who have little. FDR's 2nd inaugural address

Miss this calibre of politicians in our country. Its an absolute joke what we have these days in the Dail.

He really is a remarkable man. he is such an eloquent speaker. I remember when he beat Steve Davis at the snooker years ago. The hurricane as he was known then was truly the business.

Best of luck to him in his fight. Honestly, his speaking reminds me of Bernie Sanders before he got co-opted by the Clinton campaign. Different tone and delivery, but some of the same ideas about modern governing.

Damn Ireland your bless to have this guy

He may have fumbeled a few words but that was simply due to the passion he has as an Irish man for his brothers and sisters going through what he saw his father go through so proud he is my president

beautiful and brilliant. erin go bragh.

God bless you Michael.

This man is made of awesome.

Labour needs a social media presence lets have at least 1 video a day posted on KZfaq 5 mins a day with updates ideas - connect with the people .....

brilliant -- bravo

He says some laudable things.

If only this was the run-of-the mill politician. Great speech, great man.

michael d rockin in the dail for us!

damn he's good

What a totally honorable life - nearly 60yr and never to my knowledge any hint of scandal whatsoever. Q? Was the minimum wage cut at this time - I think 2008? Yes, certainly one of the finest orators 20/21stC. An Irish Demosthenes.

EXCELLENT SPEECH

Holy shit. This man is incredible! How many senators and house members to we have to pay off to make an amendment to the US Constitution to allow foreign people to run for POTUS? This guy would be the best US president since Roosevelt!

Very very good...his words are excellent and truthful.

I think I may be in love with this man XD

Brilliant.

Let us all remember that it was Brian Lenihan who proposed the reduction of the minimum wage. He was a dastardly politician.

Legend!

I had my volume up way too loud but I didn't dare turn it down until he was finished

Brought me to tears.

Applies perfectly to the U.S.

This guy. I like this guy.

Why is there no maximum wage limit?

I LOVE THIS MAN!!!!!! Up the RA!!!!!

He's kicking some ass

GIANT HEAD TO THE RIGHT!!

Wow WOW WOOOOW!

Amazing. Before the LIBOR scandal, even. I'm considering a move, but America needs me!!!

So glad this man is going to be our new president.

This man is a world leading politician.

He's some man. If only the President had some real power, we'd all be better off.

Reminds me a bit of Bernie Sanders.

Pity the Labour Party is even more right-wing than the crowd they replaced.

christ, that was beautiful

One word. Epic.

fucking epic

Who tf disliked this

Fuck I wish nz had a leader like this.

The one thing that is clear from his speech is that it is not simply a man talking one thing and doing another (As usual in politics). Not even the best actor in the world could get that worked up while speaking and not mean it. A drop of the minimum wage may well make more money for the exchequer than taxing the rich but thats not the point. The point is that we should be teaching the guys who caused the problems in the first place a lesson, even if it costs the country more money.

we dont know which way to turn

He was angry??

A drink for Michael D. Higgins! A man with more stones than the town of Bedrock. A man who walks up to crackpots, look them in the eyes, and beat their asses like Shin Tzu. A man who Falcon punches meteors out of earth for his warm up excersices. A man that can even cause Chuck Norris to back down with his voice and GAR alone.

michael now lives in the chateau de'l uachtaran in the phoenix park. nuff said.

@Slyfox38 Apparently!

was it reduced after all?

Anyone know the date of this speach?

Why don't I live in Ireland?

@strathmeyer Are you living on the minimum wage ?

@Slyfox38 We just did.

Im joke but he is my friends dads uncle

Lee newton

Could the USA borrow this guy for a bit? We promise to give him back, eventually. Maybe.

Is this in the Seanad Éireann or the Dail Éireann?

Do it, It will help teens with no work experience GET JOBS

Oh MICHAEL Lets hope been PRESIDENT has not stopped you expressing an OPINION. Oh how I wish we had a Politicion as good as you in the Government over here in England. But the speech proves one thing every Country have useless Politicion in GOVERNMENT.

Dail Éireann

Wish he was leader of the British labour party instead (not) Red Ed!

rock star

@Donalorudhain Not wanting to start a political debate on KZfaq, but what about his speech did you not agree with?

@Slyfox38 In a few hours by the looks of things.

the menemum wage

Ireland is 133Billion in debt. U.S. is 16 TRILLION with a T.... in debt.. Nuff said.

Fine oratory from a fine public representative - all too rare. That said I don't necessarily agree with him.

@7:56 - I am an American, what does he mean by ethics? We don't have ethics in our politics or society. In the US the idiots don't believe in Darwin unless it has to do with getting along in society. “No decent person wants to live in a society that works according to Darwinian laws. . . . A Darwinian society would be a fascist state.” - Richard Dawkins

But who really cares for there opinions.

Can we kidnap this guy and make him president of U.S.? Ireland I am jealous of the fine mind your representative have.

@Slyfox38 Today

@Slyfox38 Right now! :-D

Compare this with Obama's cool, moderate Republican presence. What a joke we have for a President.

FIVE YEAR OLD

@ozzysephirosu99 Have you ever seen some of the comments on a youtube video? :L

And since has being a socialist been a bad thing?

the fairy on the praire

@Alopoudis Bollocks. Play ball or we'll give you to the Turks.

Once he got presidency all that changed.

@theCREAPx Ye whatever. your not even Irish. what do you know about this?

OMG wtf we might as well have elected dustin the turkey as president ,after all we did send him to the eurovision song contest.

CHAMPAGNE SOCIALIST.... The lot of them especially the LABOUR PARTY

How can you be FOR the minimum wage arguing to LOWER the minimum wage? Stop "thanking" people and fuckin' say something of worth.