The Foreign Affairs Minister says the President made his own decision not to attend an event marking the centenary of the North - and did consult his department.
Michael D Higgins says he chose not to go to the ceremony in Armagh next month as it had become 'politicised'.
Simon Coveney says there was consultation between the Department of Foreign Affairs and Áras an Uachtaráin on the issue.
But he says the final call lay with the President:
Minister Coveney says "I can assure you President Higgins is the kind of person who makes his own decisions. He listens to all perspectives and then makes a judgment for himself and you know he's made his decision on this. He's given an explanation as to the basis for that decision and I think we need to respect that."
