The president signed the vaccine passport bill into law yesterday.
President Michael D. Higgins has come in for considerable criticism from Irish Twitter users after announcing that he has signed the Health Amendment No.2 Bill 2021 into law.
Starting Monday, the bill will oblige restaurants, pubs and cafés to prevent unvaccinated people from dining indoors, with only vaccinated people using QR codes and their children allowed inside.
Critics of the measures have called it a “segregation law”, insisting that it is discriminatory and unjust, whilst proponents of the bill have said it is a necessary safeguard to protect against the spread of Covid-19.
Supporters of President Higgins have said he could only have withheld his signature from the bill under Article 26 of the Constitution if he thought it was repugnant to Bunreacht na hÉireann.
At that point, it would have been sent to the Supreme Court for adjudication.
The Twitter hashtag “notmypresident” was trending last night in Ireland, as many users expressed their dismay at President Higgins’ decision to sign the bill.
https://twitter.com/RealEddieHobbs/status/1417810317225177091
Michael D Higgins has a lifetime of campaigning for equality. When he had the chance to do something concrete around it, he chose inequality. What was waste of a long and dignified career that is.
— Ewan MacKenna (@EwanMacKenna) July 21, 2021
I feel physically sick.
Vaccine Passport signed into law by the President.
Discrimination is now legal.
Let us not forget this day and those who led us here. https://t.co/MI9glJ4cYl
— Tracey O'Mahony (@TraceyOMahony81) July 21, 2021
Well it should be clear to most now that the Left have become the right and the right have become the left.
A sad day for human rights and a sad day for the Irish President. https://t.co/2qBbDNMJcA
— Dr. Marcus De Brun (@indepdubnrth) July 21, 2021
Michael D. Higgins, by not invoking Article 26 of the constitution, failed at the one, straightforward human rights task he has had. Spare me, "sure he's a decent person " waffle,
FACTS are, Higgins signed discrimination into law today.#NoVaccinePassports— Peter Dooley (@PeterDooleyDUB) July 21, 2021
The president did receive some support from other Twitter users however, as the country now awaits the re-opening of indoor dining for those who have been vaccinated.
For those who think that #NotMyPresident is in some way a means of demonstration- that’s ok – but the reality is that the President was returned with a record endorsement- he is your president – read up on the powers and processes of the office.
— Hugh Gillanders (@HughGillanders) July 21, 2021
No disrespect to opponents of the Bill, but a CSPE refresher course may be useful.
The President has no prerogative to oppose a Bill based on its intent. His only role is to consider whether it conflicts with the Constitution; if he sees no conflict, he is compelled to sign it. pic.twitter.com/snxCEdvFjI
— Gavan Reilly (@gavreilly) July 21, 2021
The hashtag #NotMyPresident is actually short for #NotMyPresidentBeingATotalLegend. It’s a common mistake and we all think he’s fabulous pic.twitter.com/wkjk8RsxDm
— Fintan Walsh (@FintanWalsh) July 21, 2021