Tánaiste Simon Harris has backed a Fine Gael video that raises questions about presidential candidate Catherine Connolly’s past legal work during the financial crisis, reports RTE.
Speaking ahead of a Cabinet meeting, Mr Harris said he stood by the criticism of the Independent candidate and had no regrets over the video, reports RTE.
“No, what I’ve regret about is we have a presidential candidate who won’t answer questions,” Mr Harris said, reports RTE.
He stated that he respects the role of barristers but added that people should “be consistent in terms of their public utterances”, reports RTE.
“There are lines quoted in the national media today in a national newspaper from people in Galway that describe one of our presidential candidates as ruthless and relentless in her pursuit of family homes. I can’t answer that, you can’t answer that, it would be really good if she answered that,” reports RTE.
Mr Harris said that tonight’s Prime Time debate on RTÉ would be a chance for her to respond to the issue.
He also remarked that the contest is proving to be “much narrower” than initially expected, reports RTE.
According to him, Irish voters treat their vote “very seriously” and are giving it considerable thought.
Fine Gael candidate Heather Humphreys reiterated her position yesterday, accusing Connolly of hypocrisy for working on bank repossession cases while later criticising those banks as a TD, reports RTE.
Ms Connolly has said that the increasingly negative tone of the campaign has only strengthened her resolve.
She told Midwest Radio in Mayo that she is now more determined than ever to stand for the welfare of Irish citizens if elected president, reports RTE.
Ms Connolly explained that her barrister work involved representing a wide range of clients, groups, and organisations.
She argued that there must be a clear distinction between the courts’ role and what she called an “appalling” government policy that continues to allow evictions, reports RTE.
She added that the two systems operate independently and that it was unfair to equate her professional role with her clients.
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Her campaign also clarified that as a barrister she “acted on instructions from solicitors across a range of civil matters”, reports RTE.
The statement was issued to RTÉ News in response to an Irish Daily Mail report claiming Connolly represented a bank in a 2013 Galway repossession case involving a young couple.
When asked how many similar cases she had taken on, the campaign again said she acted under solicitor instructions, reports RTE.
“The cab-rank rule means that barristers are professionally obliged to take work as it comes, ensuring equal access to legal representation and due process for all,” it said, reports RTE.
The statement also noted that Connolly has not practised law since becoming a TD in 2016, and said her political record reflects a commitment to dignity, fairness, and legal protections—even for those at risk of eviction, reports RTE.
“Any suggestion to the contrary is a mischaracterisation of both her professional obligations at the time and the values that have defined her public life,” the statement added.
Labour Party leader Ivana Bacik said barristers are bound by confidentiality once they accept a case.
In defending Ms Connolly, she said the candidate has given the best response that could be expected, and pointed out that Connolly stopped practising law after being elected, reports RTE.
She criticised Fine Gael’s emphasis on the issue, calling it a “nasty tactic”.
Ms Bacik noted that Connolly’s campaign is cautious, knowing how unpredictable the final week can be, reports RTE.
Social Democrats TD Gary Gannon described Fine Gael’s criticism as disgraceful and said it reflected frustration over poor polling.
When asked several times if Connolly had answered whether she worked on repossession cases, Mr Gannon said she had done so “to the best of her ability”, reports RTE.
He added that it was his understanding that barristers are not allowed to disclose case specifics.
Paul Murphy of People Before Profit-Solidarity said the video targeting Connolly had backfired, drawing more attention to Humphreys’ role in a government that enabled evictions, reports RTE.
He described Fine Gael’s approach as desperate and accused them of “scraping the bottom of the barrel” to boost their candidate.
Meanwhile, Michael Collins of Independent Ireland said the Justice Minister had clarified Connolly’s legal obligations to take on such cases.
He mentioned that the party might decide whom to support in the election after tonight’s Prime Time debate, reports RTE.
Mr Collins urged candidates to keep the debate civil, saying he didn’t want to see anyone “throwing dirt”.
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