Parties ‘disrespecting’ Constitution by delaying presidential choice – Connolly

By Jonathan McCambridge, PA

Political parties which have not yet decided on whether to run a candidate for the presidency are “disrespecting” the Constitution and the role, candidate Catherine Connolly has said.

Ms Connolly denied that she was using a visit to west Belfast to “court” support from Sinn Féin.

The Independent TD for Galway has already secured the backing of Labour, the Social Democrats, People Before Profit-Solidarity and a range of independents.

Sinn Féin has yet to announce whether it will support Ms Connolly or run its own candidate.

Heather Humphreys and Seán Kelly are in a race to secure the Fine Gael nomination following the withdrawal of Mairead McGuinness, while Fianna Fáil has not yet declared if it will field a candidate.

That leaves Ms Connolly, as the only confirmed candidate to replace Michael D Higgins in an election which must be held before November 11th.

Ms Connolly denied her visit to Belfast was a “waste of time” or that she was “desperate” for Sinn Féin support.

She said: “I look forward to support from every single side.

“I would look on myself as a uniting candidate, somebody that can draw people together and unite on the basic issues which are important to us.”

She added: “I look forward to the support of all people and parties who share the same vision, that don’t necessarily have to agree with me on everything but to share the vision that we need a courageous president and a president that represents all of the people of Ireland in the most inclusive manner.”

Asked if she accepted her success in the presidential race depended on Sinn Féin not running a candidate, she said: “I never made my decision on the basis of Sinn Féin, or indeed any other party.

“I have made my decision on the basis of my own inner strength, my own beliefs, on my background, where I’ve come from.”

Ms Connolly said she believed Ms Humphreys has a “good chance” of securing the Fine Gael nomination, describing her as a “nice woman”.

She added: “I’ve been on the other side of the Dáil asking questions of her repeatedly.”

She said: “I have been working on the ground assiduously for the last six weeks.

“The feedback is absolutely positive.

“I can tell you there is a disconnect between what Government are doing and what people are saying on the ground.

“They are crying out for a candidate with integrity and honesty, with an ability to communicate, with an ability to stand back from the consensus narrative when that is necessary.

“In relation to the parties that haven’t made a decision, I would say on a general basis it’s disrespectful to the constitution and the role of the presidency that the parties haven’t picked candidates yet for this very important role and that they are putting it off.

“On occasions it feels a bit like Lanigan’s Ball, I stepped out and she stepped in again.”