President Michael D. Higgins was elected the ninth President of Ireland in 2011 and was re-elected in 2018 securing the largest number of votes in Irish presidential election history. President Higgins has forged a career as an academic, a poet, and as a public representative serving at every level of public life in Ireland. He was a member of Dáil Éireann for twenty-five years and a member of Seanad Éireann for nine years. He has campaigned extensively for human rights, inclusive citizenship and climate sustainability across the world. Previous works include When Ideas Matter: Speeches for an Ethical Republic (2016), Renewing the Republic (2012) and Causes of Concern (2007) and among numerous other publications.