Burns stated that 'I can confidently say that today [and] confirm it for you. I have another year of the GAA presidency to do and I would certainly not be in the mood to give that up to go for anything else.'
President Michael D Higgins expressed his deep gratitude to the people of Ireland, reflecting on a privileged 14-year term, stating, "It has been a wonderful privilege to be the President of Ireland and I am very, very, very pleased."