The head of state role in Ireland is mostly a ceremonial role and it is not executive. The president and the government are separate so they have no say in government policies.
Current president Michael D Higgins has often privately irked Irish ministers during his 14-year tenure by what has been perceived as criticism of government policy. He has been outspoken on Ireland’s housing crisis and is also supportive of Palestine.
Connolly and Higgins have a history. Even though Connolly previously served as an Irish Labour councillor, she left the party after they did not add her as a running mate alongside Higgins on the Galway ticket.
Sinn Féin leader and opposition leader Mary Lou McDonald told BBC NI she believed Connolly would make the role her own.
“Catherine brings her authentic self to this role and I am not convinced that you ever have an Uachtarain [Irish president] that is simply a heat and repeat of a previous Uachtarain,” she said at Dublin Castle.
Even though she is a Palestinian supporter and previously criticised the US and UK governments’ roles in the conflict, Connolly told a TV debate last week she would not refuse to meet figures such as US President Donald Trump.
“If it’s just a meet and greet, then I will meet and greet. If the discussion is genocide, then that’s a completely different thing. But I doubt that will be the discussion with the president,” she told the debate.