Presidential hopeful Catherine Connolly has claimed that Fine Gael is “absolutely scared” of the growing support her campaign is receiving, reports RTE.
The Independent candidate also stated that she has consistently defended women’s rights throughout her career and that people recognise her for this. “I’ve never changed,” she said.
Speaking to the media today, Ms Connolly firmly stated that she would “absolutely not” hire anyone listed on the sex offenders’ register, reports RTE.
Her comments came in response to questions about a recent radio interview, during which she responded to a hypothetical scenario by saying she would “have to think about it” when asked whether she would consider hiring a convicted rapist for a role at Áras an Uachtaráin.
Earlier today, the Minister for Health strongly criticised Ms Connolly’s remarks, calling them “completely unacceptable” and expressing disbelief that there was any uncertainty around the issue.
Ms Connolly made the controversial comment when asked if she would employ a convicted rapist for a position in the Áras, provided the person was otherwise fully qualified for the job, reports RTE.
This followed questions directed at Ms Connolly over the hiring of a woman in 2019 who had previously been convicted for carrying a weapon and ammunition.
Ms Connolly had earlier defended that employment decision, saying the woman was “absolutely perfect” for the role, reports RTE.
When asked on Newstalk whether she would hire a convicted rapist to work in the Áras, the Independent candidate responded that she “would have to reflect on that.”
“I’d have to think on that,” she said, reports RTE.
“As a woman, I react. So obviously, I would have to reflect,” said Ms Connolly, reports RTE.
At Ruhama’s annual report launch, Ms Carroll MacNeill stressed the importance of safeguarding roles from those with criminal convictions. She acknowledged the justice system allows for rehabilitation, but added, “we don’t allow people with sex offences to work in schools for example, we don’t allow people with gun convictions to work in the Houses of Parliament,” she said.
“This should be obvious, and it should be obvious to any parliamentarian, and obvious to anyone running for the role of President,” she said, reports RTE.
“I don’t understand how this is even a question,” Ms Carroll MacNeill added, reports RTE.
Elsewhere, Ms Connolly addressed the use of €3,700 in TDs’ allowance funds for a trip she took to Syria.
In 2018, she travelled to Syria with Mick Wallace, Clare Daly, and Maureen O’Sullivan. That same year, she claimed the funds and included the details in her annual return to the Standards in Public Office Commission (SIPO), reports RTE.
However, during her campaign launch in July, she had stated that she had paid for the trip herself.
Her campaign released a statement today confirming that the money used came from the standard allowance all TDs receive for parliamentary purposes.
“In 2018, while serving as a TD and in line with Oireachtas rules, Catherine Connolly used a portion of her Parliamentary Activities Allowance under the ‘Research’ heading to support a fact-finding visit to Syria. The total declared amount was €3,691, as set out in her annual return to the Standards in Public Office Commission (SIPO),” reports RTE.
“This expenditure was made for research purposes: to gather first-hand information relevant to Catherine’s parliamentary work on foreign policy, humanitarian issues, sanctions, Irish neutrality and Ireland’s role in international institutions. Costs covered standard travel and subsistence. No personal benefit accrued. Engagement with people and organisations on the ground in conflict settings is part of responsible parliamentary research. Such engagement does not imply endorsement of any government, faction or policy. Catherine’s record is consistent and clear: a commitment to human rights, active neutrality, humanitarian law and peace,” reports RTE.
The statement added that the spending was fully disclosed in Ms Connolly’s 2018 return to SIPO, in accordance with legal requirements.
In August, Ms Connolly admitted it was “certainly” a mistake to have met with a supporter of former Syrian president Bashar al-Assad during the same trip.
Speaking on RTÉ’s This Week, Ms Connolly explained that she encountered Fares Al-Shehab, head of Aleppo’s Chamber of Commerce, in that context, reports RTE.
However, she stated: “In retrospect, when one looks back and sees the comments that he made and you see them, absolutely, this man is utterly unacceptable to me.”
She said she made the journey to Syria alongside “a group of activists who had been active in the Palestinian cause”, naming former TDs Maureen O’Sullivan, Clare Daly, and Mick Wallace among them, reports RTE.
Ms Connolly said their visit had a “specific purpose of fact-finding on the ground”, and that they toured the Yarmouk Palestinian Camp near Damascus, describing it as “destroyed by the Assad regime”.
Ms Connolly was scheduled to campaign in Dublin this morning ahead of a scheduled radio debate with Fine Gael presidential candidate Heather Humphreys on RTÉ’s Drivetime at 5pm.
The debate will be hosted by Sarah McInerney and Cormac Ó hEadhra, and will also air on the RTÉ News channel, reports RTE.
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