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Apology from the President for a "trivial statement" about an expert.

Leithscéal ón Uachtarán faoi "ráiteas fánach" faoi shaineolaí.

President Michael D.

Tá an tUachtarán Michael D.

Higgins has apologized to Professor Louise Richardson for a "careless statement" he made which was published in a newspaper yesterday.

Higgins tar éis leithscéal a ghabháil leis an Ollamh Louise Richardson faoi "ráiteas míchúramach" a rinne sé a foilsíodh i nuachtán inné.

In the article the President said that Ireland was "running thin" during a dangerous period, at a time when the country's foreign policy is "going downstream."

San alt dúirt an tUachtarán go raibh Éirinn "ag rith ar thanaí" le linn tréimhse chontúirteach, tráth a bhfuil polasaí eachtrach na tíre "ag imeacht le sruth."

He also referred to the chairman of the Consultative Forum on International Security Policy - Professor Richardson - and said that she was someone "with a very large DBE - Dame of the British Empire" and that she was "grand" but that she would have to the ability of experts to come to the Forum.

Thagair sé chomh maith do chathaoirleach an Fhóram Comhairliúcháin ar an bPolasaí Slándála Idirnáisiúnta – an tOll Richardson – agus dúirt sé gur duine í "with a very large DBE - Dame of the British Empire" agus go raibh sí "grand" ach go mbeadh ar a chumas féin a theacht ar lucht saineolais le bheith ar an bhFóram.

Today the President's Office says "he meant no offense by that trivial statement."

Inniu deir Oifig an Uachtaráin "nach raibh aon mhasla i gceist aige leis an ráiteas fánach sin."

"The President apologizes" says a statement from the Office "for any offense he inadvertently gave to Professor Richardson with a careless statement.

"Gabhann an tUachtarán leithscéal" a deir ráiteas ón Oifig "faoi aon mhasla a thug sé gan chuimhneamh don Ollamh Richardson le ráiteas míchúramach.

As a political scientist and sociologist himself, the President is familiar with the work of Professor Richardson.

Mar eolaí polaitiúil agus socheolaí é féin tá eolas ag an Uachtarán ar shaothar an Oll Richardson.

He admires, as do others, the Professor's tenacity in attracting students from disadvantaged and other non-traditional backgrounds to Oxford University, which led to her being awarded the DBE."

Tá meas aige, mar atá ag daoine eile, ar threallús an Ollaimh ag mealladh mac léinn faoi mhíbhuntáiste agus ó chúlraí eile neamhthraidisiúnta chuig Ollscoil Oxford, rud ba chúis leis an ngradam DBE a bronnadh uirthi."

Government sources have indicated that Prof Richardson will continue to chair the Forum.

Tá sé tugtha le fios ag foinsí Rialtais go leanfaidh an tOll Richardson i mbun cathaoirleachta ar an bhFóram.

In the interview the President did yesterday with the Sunday Business Post he said he was concerned that the country was turning away from "positive neutrality, our established policy."

San agallamh a rinne an tUachtarán inné leis an Sunday Business Post dúirt sé go raibh imní air go raibh an tír ag iompú ón "neodracht dearfach, an polasaí seanbhunaithe atá againn."

He mentioned the panels on the Forum, among which he said "the admirals, the generals, the air force and the rest" as well as "the countries that used to be neutral but are now looking for NATO membership."

Luaigh sé na painéil atá ar an bhFóram, ina measc a dúirt sé "na haimiréil, na ginearáil, an t-aerfhórsa agus an chuid eile" chomh maith "leis na tíortha a bhíodh neodrach ach atá anois ag lorg ballraíochta le NATO."

Cathal Berry - Independent MP and former member of the Defense Forces - has said there should be a "respectful debate" about Irish neutrality.

Tá Cathal Berry - Teachta Dála Neamhspleách agus iarchomhalta sna Fórsaí Cosanta - tar éis a rá gur cheart "díospóireacht mheasúil" a bheith ann faoi neodracht na hÉireann.