Fine Gael’s presidential hopeful Heather Humphreys has expressed disagreement with remarks made by fellow candidate Catherine Connolly regarding military expenditure in Europe, reports RTE.
Ms Connolly compared the current increase in Germany’s defence budget to its military build-up in the 1930s.
While speaking in Killarney, Ms Humphreys stated, “Europe has to defend itself”, reports RTE.
“We’ve had peace for almost 50 years in Europe,” said Ms Humphreys, reports RTE.
“Russia attacked Ukraine. War has come back to Europe,” she added, reports RTE.
She noted that Russian President Vladimir Putin holds the power to end the war in Ukraine.
“He can stop this war,” she said. “It’s so difficult to see what’s happening in Ukraine. You see the bombs, the drones. What is happening in Ukraine, I believe is wrong,” reports RTE.
Ms Humphreys continued: “We have to be aware that we are living in a different world and Europe has to protect itself.”
She said the actions of President Putin towards Ukraine have been “horrific”.
“It disgusts everybody,” Ms Humphreys added, reports RTE.
Fianna Fáil candidate Jim Gavin was also questioned about Ms Connolly’s statements and said that nations bordering Russia, including Ukraine, must “look after their own welfare”.
Speaking from Co Kerry, Mr Gavin acknowledged the rationale behind such countries “investing in their defence and their protection”.
He added that from Ireland’s viewpoint, “the Defence Commission has looked at the Irish Defence Forces in terms of investment”, reports RTE.
“We can keep our seas safe and keep our peacekeeping roles up to speed,” he said, reports RTE.
Mr Gavin stated he did not wish to enter into a “tit-tat” with another candidate but emphasized, “Europe needs to defend itself”.
“From my perspective, the European Union has been very clear in terms of the conflict of Russia,” he said, reports RTE.
“It needs to stop. European countries need to be able to defend themselves,” reports RTE.
Mr Gavin also said the EU was founded to encourage democracy and peace.
Speaking from Co Donegal today, Ms Connolly stated: “Every sovereign state has a right to self-defence.”
“My concern is the use of the military-industrial complex, the massive profits that they are making,” Ms Connolly said, reports RTE.
“I feel it’s endangering our peace worldwide. I think we have a duty as a neutral country to speak out on that,” she said, reports RTE.
Ms Connolly pointed to Germany as a nation that is “boosting its economy through the military-industrial complex”.
However, she noted Germany isn’t the only one.
“England has done it. America has done it. The EU as a project more and more is going down the road of military industrialisation”, reports RTE.
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Ms Connolly said it is “prohibited to spend money on war through the EU and on the military-industrial complex”.
“They’ve found a different way. They’ve twisted language so that the money can be used, reports RTE.
“We are talking about millions and not a fraction of that is going into peace or diplomacy,” she said, reports RTE.
The presidential candidates are continuing their campaigns in Donegal and Kerry.
Catherine Connolly is visiting Donegal town, Killybegs, An Clochán Liath, and Ardara, reports RTE.
She is supported by a coalition of left-leaning parties, including Sinn Féin.
Local Sinn Féin TDs Pearse Doherty and Pádraig Mac Lochlainn are canvassing alongside her in his home constituency, reports RTE.
Fine Gael’s Heather Humphreys and Fianna Fáil’s Jim Gavin are campaigning in Kerry.
Both are scheduled to attend the Listowel Races later today.
While speaking on Radio Kerry’s Kerry Today with Jerry O’Sullivan, Ms Humphreys described her campaign as “going well,” and shared that she’s been engaging with the public and explaining her “vision” for the presidency, reports RTE.
She said that, if elected, she intends to “put a strong focus on community” and will aim to bring people together.
Ms Humphreys emphasized the value of community and said it is “so important” that the work of volunteers is acknowledged.
“I’ve seen them across the country, they are the people who hold our community together, you see them in the GAA, you see them in the Tidy Towns, the Men Sheds, the Women Sheds, the youth clubs, they’re all out working in their development associations, they’re doing so much for this country,” she said, reports RTE.
Ms Humphreys urged volunteers to “keep going” and said they must not be taken “for granted,” and she wants to support them in every way that I can”.
She also praised Irish voters, saying they are “very well informed”.
“Because they know the Presidential campaign is different, it’s about the person and it’s not about policies,” she said, reports RTE.
Jim Gavin once more ruled out the idea of forming a voting alliance with Ms Humphreys.
“I am canvassing for myself Jim Gavin, I am not a politician. I am presenting myself, as raw as it is, to the Irish people. I have done a close to four decades of service to this state and very proud of that,” he said, reports RTE.
Mr Gavin urged the electorate to “give Jim your number one”.
Speaking again on Radio Kerry, Mr Gavin said he believes the Irish national flag should not be misused by extremists and that it stands for inclusiveness.
“What is interesting and unique about our national flag is that the piece in the middle speaks about equality, speaks about respect, the white of our tricolour. So I am very sensitive of it, I don’t think it should be used for extremes,” Mr Gavin said, reports RTE.
He also said he views the presidency as essential and described the role as “powerful”.
“When Éamon De Valera when he and others wrote the Constitution, which was adopted by the Irish people in ’37, had that the President is a non-partisan, non-political force for the country. So my presidency will be about being active amongst the community, visiting schools, visiting volunteering orgainsations highlighting the great work they do,” Mr Gavin said, reports RTE.
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