There's been near-universal condemnation of a protest last week - at which the President was labelled a "midget parasite".
Michael D Higgins was heckled as he tried to leave a school in Finglas, by opponents of water charges.
The Taoiseach says the incident is "deplorable" and has no place in Ireland, while other cabinet ministers have also lashed out.
Meanwhile a socialist TD who appeared to support the protest has slammed a newspaper for a "hatchet job" headline - saying he defends the protest, but not the language used at the President.
Our political correspondent Gavan Reilly filed this report for Today FM's National Lunchtime News:
This lunchtime Paul Murphy has called on the protestors concerned to apologise:
