The inaugural Medal of Excellence was presented to President Higgins on behalf of the Law Society of Ireland’s Centre for Justice and Law Reform at a special event at Áras an Uachtaráin yesterday.

Law Society president Eamon Harrington said: “Throughout five decades of public service, President Higgins has combined scholarship, political leadership, cultural vision, and principled public advocacy to shape the law, policy, and public attitudes.

“Elected president of Ireland in 2011, and re-elected in 2018 with an exceptional personal mandate, he brought to the role a distinctive combination of compassion, intellectual rigour, and sustained commitment to social justice and democratic norms.

“A true leader in every sense of the word, President Higgins is a tireless champion of reforms that deepen democratic participation, protect the vulnerable, and advance equality.

“His legacy will undoubtedly be grounded in strengthened civil society, cultural renewal, and an unwavering defence of human dignity.”

The Law Society’s Centre for Justice and Law Reform was established in 2025 to help shape law reform and bring about improvements in the justice system.