President Michael Higgins has refused to comment on why his Christmas address to the nation contained no 
mention of Christ or Christianity for the third year in a row.
A spokesperson at Aras an Uachtarain said that any questioning of President Higgins’ religious views would be “inappropriate”, the Sunday Independent reports.
Taoiseach Enda Kenny also made no mention of Christianity in his Christmas address.
Mr Higgins omission of any reference to Christianity or God was commented upon by the head chaplain of the Defence Forces, Msgr Eoin Thynne, who mentioned the issue in his Christmas Eve homily in Windy Arbour.
Since that homily, Msgr Thynne has also voiced concerns about the crib allegedly being removed from the Defence Forces headquarters in Newbridge, Co Kildare. He said these concerns had been raised with him by others.
Defence Forces chief-of-staff Lieut Gen Conor O’Boyle has conveyed his regret for any embarrassment caused to Mr Higgins as a result of the homily.
Lieut Gen O’Boyle contacted Aras an Uachtarain to “convey the regret of the head chaplain for any embarrassment that may have been caused to the President”.
A forces spokesman declined to comment on the claim the crib was removed from the Newbridge headquarters or on who might have ordered its removal. He also declined to say whether or not Msgr Thynne will be subject to disciplinary action.
Irish leaders have bucked the trend in the Western world in their decision to shy away from any mention of Christ in their Christmas addresses.
Around the world, global leaders made various references to Christ and the Bible in televised speeches watched by millions of people from all denominations.
In Britain, Prime Minister David Cameron in his Christmas message said that millions of people are living up to the teachings of Christ by helping other people.
He quoted the ‘Act of the Apostles’.
US President Barack Obama said: “This is our chance to celebrate the birth of Christ and to live as he taught us to love our neighbours as ourselves, to feed the hungry and look after the sick, to be our brother’s keeper and our sister’s keeper. For all of us as Americans, regardless of our faith, those are values that can drive us to be better parents and better friends, better neighbours and better citizens.”
In Germany, Chancellor Angela Merkel wished the public “God’s blessings”.