Fine Gael is carrying out a campaign that is “engendering fear”, according to presidential hopeful Catherine Connolly.
Connolly has been referred to on social media as “The Bailiff”, after she said she worked as a barrister for both sides of the banks when people were losing their homes during the recession.
Ms Connolly is competing with Fine Gael’s Heather Humphreys in the presidential race, with voters heading to the polls on October 24th, reports Breaking News.
On Monday, the Independent TD for Galway criticised Fine Gael for conducting a “negative campaign” over her stances on international matters such as the US, Nato, Russia and the Middle East.
She said: “What’s happening here in the last few weeks is a policy of fear, of diminishing the candidate,
“And I say you’re actually not just diminishing me, you’re diminishing the role of the presidency, and you’re also diminishing the people on the ground who are all actively canvassing for me, actively looking for hope,” reports Breaking News.
A former clinical psychologist and qualified barrister, Ms Connolly pointed to her election as the first female Leas-Cheann Comhairle as evidence of her strong “judgment” and ability to work cooperatively.
“I showed that I could share a Dáil, listen to all sides – opinions that I didn’t agree with – meet dignitaries, treat them with respect, absolutely shown what I did in that role,” she said, reports Breaking News.
Ms Connolly also defended her past decisions to vote against both the Lisbon and Nice treaties.
She said: “Voting no in relation to a treaty is not a negative thing. It’s indicating the concerns that I and lots of people had. And, in fact, in voting no we had to vote a second time on Nice and on Lisbon and we were given absolute, solemn promises in relation to our neutrality that seem to mean nothing at the moment,” reports Breaking News.
Speaking on RTÉ’s News at One, she added: “Because we are now going down a road of saying that the triple lock is not a core part of our neutrality,”
Ms Connolly has secured the support of several left-wing independents and political groups such as Sinn Féin, the Social Democrats, Labour and People Before Profit, reports Breaking News.
Regarding backing from opposition parties, she said Labour had “played a blinder” in her favour – even though former party leader Alan Kelly, now a TD, stated he would vote for Ms Humphreys.
She also mentioned that Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin’s endorsement of Ms Humphreys – following his own party’s candidate Jim Gavin withdrawing – offered a “clear” alternative for voters, reports Breaking News.
Ms Connolly said: “People have a choice now – we’ve seen the Taoiseach of the country supporting Heather Humphreys, and I think the leadership in Fianna Fail have made it clear that there’s absolutely no difference between Fianna Fail and Fine Gael – they’ve made the decision easier for the electorate in that sense,
“I believe that a substantial membership of Fianna Fail are not happy with that, and I would ask them to look to me as the candidate who will best represent them. I have always stood as an inclusive candidate, and I think that’s very important,” reports Breaking News.
Meanwhile, Heather Humphreys described Ms Connolly as a “decent woman” but noted that their views differ significantly, calling her “far left”.
These remarks were made during a visit to the Jameson Distillery in Dublin, when Ms Humphreys was asked to say something positive about her opponent amid claims Fine Gael was “engendering fear”, reports Breaking News.
Outlining her goals for the presidency, Ms Humphreys said she would represent Ireland overseas and pledged: “I won’t let this country down” on the international stage.
She added that, as president, she would travel on trade missions in partnership with the enterprise minister and would highlight economic opportunities during official visits, reports Breaking News.
She stated that investing in trade trips was worthwhile, arguing the returns to Ireland justified the cost.
“The president goes on various different state visits, and I think it’s very important that on those visits, you put a big focus on trade,” she said,
“That’s the support that I want to give our companies, our indigenous companies, to find new markets abroad, and indeed, to seek investment for this country,” reports Breaking News.
When asked if her proposals overlapped with government responsibilities and whether she was still operating in “minister mode”, she said: “Absolutely not.”
Asked if she was proposing to act like a second enterprise minister, she replied: “No, absolutely not. I think I will be a president that will speak up for people. I will be a president that will focus on communities, that will focus on the volunteers and the huge contribution that they are making. It is my intention to have a community award for people who step up to the plate,” reports Breaking News.
“I’m quite sure that people want to see Ireland being represented abroad, not just on trade missions, but culturally and diplomatically. The president is the first diplomat of this country, when the president goes abroad,” reports Breaking News.
“What I can say to you is, if I go abroad, I won’t let this country down,” reports Breaking News.
In response to a question about Lucia O’Farrell – whose son Shane was killed while cycling in Co Monaghan – Ms Humphreys said she was unable to intervene in what was an independent process during her time as justice minister.
It was revealed in the Dáil that the driver involved in Mr O’Farrell’s death should have been in custody at the time due to breaches of bail conditions, reports Breaking News.
She said: “I spoke to Lucia O’Farrell at length, the first time I spoke to her. As I said, it was very sad what happened to her son, Shane, and my heart still goes out to her, because the family have had to endure a terrible, terrible loss. I did make representations for Lucia and her family on a number of occasions, and I really did my best. And I’m sorry if she thinks I didn’t do enough, but I did my best for Lucia. I know I was minister for justice, and there was an independent process taking place at that time, I could not interfere in that process, because it could have derailed the entire process. Can I just say that I’m glad that Lucia has got a state apology,” reports Breaking News.
Tell us your thoughts in the Facebook post and share this with your friends.
