Independent presidential candidate accuses Fine Gael rival Heather Humphreys of negative campaign, Tabitha Monahan
Independent candidate Catherine Connolly has defended her decision to vote “no” to the Lisbon and Nice treaties.
Her comments came after her opponent, Fine Gael’s Heather Humphreys, accused Ms Connolly of voting against “every European treaty” during an RTÉ presidential debate on Sunday, which Ms Connolly said was “absolutely wrong”.
After the debate, Ms Connolly was asked if she had ever voted in favour of an EU treaty, to which she said: “Probably, yes. I’d have to think back.”
She added that she remembered canvassing against the Lisbon treaty but did not remember canvassing against any other treaty.
Ms Connolly confirmed yesterday that she had voted “no” to the Lisbon and Nice treaties.
“Voting ‘no’ in relation to a treaty is not a negative thing,” Ms Connolly said.
“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.”
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 also accused Fine Gael of engaging in a campaign that is “engendering fear”. The Galway West TD said her opponent’s party was running a “negative campaign” about her foreign policy positions on the US, Nato, the Middle East and Russia.
“What’s happening here in the last few weeks is a policy of fear, of diminishing the candidate,” she said.
“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.”
Meanwhile, Ms Humphreys said Ms Connolly was a “decent woman” but that her views were “different to mine” and described her as “far left”.
She made the comments at the Jameson Distillery in Dublin city centre, after being asked to say something positive about Ms Connolly.
Ms Humphreys outlined her pitch for the presidency, saying she “won’t let this country down” when representing Ireland abroad.
Whatever money spent on trade missions is well spent
She added that, as president, she would travel on trade missions in conjunction with the enterprise minister, as well as put a focus on trade during state visits.
“Whatever money spent on trade missions is well spent, because the benefits come back to Ireland,” she said.
“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. 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.”
Asked whether this pitch crossed the line into the Government’s remit and if she was stuck in “minister mode”, she said: “Absolutely not.”
Questioned whether she was suggesting a second enterprise minister, she added: “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.
“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.
“What I can say to you is, if I go abroad, I won’t let this country down.”
Asked about Lucia O’Farrell, whose son Shane was cycling home when he was struck by a car and killed in Co Monaghan in 2011, Ms Humphreys said she could not interfere in an independent process during her time as justice minister. The Dáil has heard that on the day Mr O’Farrell was struck, the driver should have been in jail for breaches of bail conditions.
Ms Humphreys 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.
“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.”