Main Points
- Candidates face final days of campaign ahead of presidential election on Friday, October 24th
- Heather Humphreys and Catherine Connolly traded strongly worded personal criticism over the weekend amid comments over the Independent candidate’s work as a barrister representing banks in repossession cases
- Labour leader Ivana Bacik and Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns have criticised a Fine Gael video targeting Connolly, with Bacik describing it as “a new low”
- Heather Humphreys faces various media interviews later, while Catherine Connolly is taking part in a national youth canvass day
Key Reads
- Olivia O’Leary: I got a sharp lesson in how protective Irish people are of our presidents
- Pat Leahy: If Catherine Connolly wins, it means one of two things
- Presidential election explained: The candidates, how to vote, the powers of the president, and when will we know the result?
- Who should you vote for as president? Use this tool to see which candidate matches your views
- Have your say: What is your view on the presidential election campaign?
That concludes today’s live coverage of the presidential election campaign. Stick with us for the rest of this week on irishtimes.com as polling day on October 24th looms ever closer.
In Dublin, a concert in support of Catherine Connolly’s campaign is taking place tonight in Vicar Street.
Artists on the bill include Emmet Kirwan, Emma Langford, Christie Moore and The Mary Wallopers.
Connolly ‘deeply disappointed’ campaign not focussed on ‘vision for the presidency’
Speaking in Dublin, Ms Connolly said she was “deeply disappointed” the discussion in the campaign was about her work as a barrister before 2016 rather than the two candidates’ “vision for the presidency”.
Ms Connolly said: “I think [Fine Gael are] absolutely terrified that the movement that I represent and am simply a symbol of a new movement for a new Republic, I think they’re absolutely terrified.
“And that they would resort to such tactics just reflects on their terror and their fear of the change in Ireland, and they’re utterly out of touch.”
Labour leader Ivana Bacik, who worked as a barrister and criminology lecturer before becoming a politician, said earlier on Monday that the attacks were “craven” and represented a “new level of nasty”. – PA
Humphreys: ‘Nobody lost their house when I worked in the credit union’
Heather Humphreys has said no one lost their home when she worked at a credit union.
Ms Humphreys and Fine Gael have criticised Catherine Connolly’s work as a barrister, claiming her time representing financial institutions clashed with remarks on banks in the Dáil.
Connolly, who is leading in the opinion polls, said she was “deeply disappointed” in this being raised as an issue”.
Asked if there were repossessions during her time as a credit union manager, she said: “A credit union has a duty to look after the savings of those who deposit their money with the credit union, they’re for the members.
“Unfortunately, in some cases – and always, always with the approval of the board of directors in the credit union – that legal proceedings took place, but it was only as a matter of last resort.
“I can tell you that nobody lost their house when I worked in the credit union.”
Asked about comments she made at the weekend that she had not made “money out of” other’s misfortune, in an apparent reference to Connolly’s work as a barrister, Humphreys was asked if the same applied to barristers in Fine Gael.
She said: “I was speaking for myself when I said that, I have never tried to benefit from people who have been in difficult situations.
Asked whether she declared her status as credit union manager when speaking in the Dáil about mortgage repossessions or the tracker mortgage scandal, she said: “I never stood up in the Dáil and spoke about any of those things, I can assure you.” – PA
Connolly canvasses in Gorey
From Brendan Furlong:
Heather Humphreys braved the elements of a torrential downpour in Gorey on Friday but it failed to dampen her canvass and that of the crowd of supporters as she continued to increase the pressure on rival Catherine Connolly.
Humphreys said she had asked “some very legitimate questions” of Connolly.
“I have been asked questions and I have always tried to answer them and I feel Catherine should answer them too,” Humphreys said.
Ms Humphreys said: “Catherine represent the banks to repossess houses. Catherine went in and spoke at Galway City Council meeting and said the banks are criminals, and said that as well in the Dáil. She castigated the banks. She should have told people I want to declare an interest, of having worked for the banks in the repossessing of houses.”
Ms Humphreys said she wants to represent Ireland and support Irish business on the world stage, diplomatically and culturally, and want to open doors for Irish businesses so one can have good quality jobs in this country.
Having visited the local wood-turner along with Petitt’s SuperValu, she also took in the local credit union receiving a warm welcome, while also receiving words of support on the rain-lashed streets.
How does being a barrister work?
So – barristers, clients, recusing yourself, English banks. How does it all work in reality?
Colm Keena explains the rules, the exceptions and how it works in practice, as Fine Gael continues its criticism of presidential candidate Catherine Connolly for legal work she performed during the financial crisis.
[ Could Catherine Connolly have refused to act for banks in repossession cases?Opens in new window ]
High Court challenge rejected
A case of some relevance to the presidential election has been dismissed at the High Court.
Businessman Niall Byrne had brought an action over Fine Gael’s instructions to its councillors not to nominate independent candidates.
The case was bound to fail, found the judge, who said it should be struck out. Fiachra Gallagher’s report from the Four Courts has more.
Connolly declines to say if former staff member left Éirígí before being hired
From Ellen Coyne:
Catherine Connolly has declined to say if she asked a former staff member if she had left Éirígí before hiring her to work for her in the Houses of the Oireachtas.
The independent left-wing presidential candidate said it is “appalling and unacceptable” that Ursula Ní Shionnain’s name and picture has appeared in the media. Ms Connolly also said that “unfounded” allegations had been made against Ms Connolly as a presidential candidate.
Ms Ní Shionnain, who was jailed for firearms offences by the Special Criminal Court in 2014, was hired to work for Ms Connolly in Leinster House in 2018.
In an interview with The Last Word on Today FM on Monday, Ms Connolly declined to say what conversations she had with Ms Ní Shionnain about whether or not she was still supportive of Éirígí before she hired her.
Asked if she had discussed with Ms Ní Shionnain “what she had done and whether her views had changed,” Ms Connolly said “it was obvious her views had changed.”
“It was very obvious from talking to [former Fianna Fáil TD] Éamon Ó Cuív who had visited her.”
Asked why she had “depended” on Mr Ó Cuív, Ms Connolly said “it’s not a question of depending on anyone else. It’s a question of, a person had completed her term, fully rehabilitated.”
She added: “I formed my own opinion from talking to people who knew her.”
Asked again about the conversations she had with Ms Ní Shionnain, Ms Connolly said “I’m not going back into conversations I had with her at that time. It’s so long ago, it’s 2019.”
Ms Connolly was also critical of media coverage of the story and said “unfounded allegations” had been made against her.
“That woman’s photo was on the front of a paper yesterday, and it’s absolutely appalling and unacceptable,” Ms Connolly said. “Because it’s an absolute infringement on her privacy, over and over, with the base intent of trying to damage me as a presidential candidate.”
Ms Connolly was also asked about her role as a barrister who represented banks in home repossession cases. Fine Gael has accused Ms Connolly of hypocrisy and of profiting from people’s misfortune. Ms Connolly said she “cannot discuss” if anyone lost their home as a result of cases where she represented financial institutions but also said that she had represented “lots of different sides.”
“People lost their homes because of Government policy, Government bailed out banks. How many evictions as a result of Government policy? These are the questions that one needs to ask and have answered.”
Ms Connolly told presenter Matt Cooper that she is representing a “movement”, and that “this movement will continue after me”.
“And I’m delighted that I have united people together across parties and none to stand together.”
Siptu backs Connolly
From our Work Correspondent Emmet Malone:
Siptu has said it is backing Catherine Connolly in this week’s presidential election, or at least it is backing the fact that the left wing parties are backing her.
In a message to its nearly 200,000 members on Monday signed by its four most senior officials, it said the union was “committed to advocating for a political landscape that supports fairness at work and justice in society”.
It said it had consistently encouraged its members to vote for left-wing parties and those parties to work together.
“With the upcoming presidential election, we welcome and endorse the unity shown by progressive Opposition parties in supporting a single candidate, Catherine Connolly.
“This joint approach reflects the values that define our movement: solidarity, social justice and a shared commitment to a better for Ireland for all.
“Siptu encourages our members to support the vision of left unity when casting their vote.”
McConalogue backs Humphreys
Humphreys has also on Monday secured the public backing of another member of Government.
Fianna Fáil’s Minister of State Charlie McConalogue has said he will be supporting the Fine Gael candidate ahead of polling day this coming Friday, October 24th.
Humphreys accuses Connolly of ‘double standards’
Heather Humphreys has said no one lost their home when she worked at a credit union as she accused her presidential rival of “double standards”.
Ms Humphreys and Fine Gael have criticised Catherine Connolly’s work as a barrister, claiming her time representing financial institutions clashed with remarks on banks in the Dáil.
The war of words began after Ms Humphreys told the Sunday Independent she “never tried to make money out of people’s misfortune”, referring to Ms Connolly’s time working as a barrister during the economic crash.
Ms Humphreys said Ms Connolly worked for “UK banks” before she went into politics while she worked in a credit union, “actually helping people to stay in their houses”.
“Catherine, I’m sure, is a fine barrister, absolutely, and I’m sure she was very good at her work,” she said.
“But the point is she stood up in Galway City Council. She absolutely castigated the banks and she talked about them evicting people, and she was the very same person that was working for those banks at that time, helping people to be evicted out of their houses.
“That is what I call double standards.
“It’s about the character of the person and I think it’s important that those questions are answered.
Asked if there were repossessions during her time as a credit union manager, she said: “A credit union has a duty to look after the savings of those who deposit their money with the credit union, they’re for the members.
“Unfortunately, in some cases – and always, always with the approval of the board of directors in the credit union – that legal proceedings took place, but it was only as a matter of last resort.
“I can tell you that nobody lost their house when I worked in the credit union.” – PA
Voters in Galway discuss the candidates
From Andrew Hamilton:
Despite the winter chill, the St Nicholas’ market in Galway city heaves with people, as tourists and locals help themselves to artisan cheeses and vegetarian curries.
On a different day, the Churchyard Street market is exactly the sort of place where you might expect to find Catherine Connolly, pushing her bicycle up the cobbled street with a wicker basket at her side ready to be filled with organic vegetables and handmade soaps.
But on this day, as her campaign to become the next Irish president enters the finishing stretch, she is nowhere to be seen.
Read the full article at the link below.
[ ‘My mind is still open and it can be changed’Opens in new window ]
Independent presidential candidate Catherine Connolly trenchantly criticised the banks in one Dáil contribution in 2017 during a debate on the tracker mortgage scandal.
Marie O’Halloran reports: This centred around banks overcharging tens of thousands of customers after they denied them a tracker rate they were entitled to (1 per cent above European Central Bank rate) or charged the wrong rate of interest on their mortgage. At last 25 cases were identified where people lost their homes as a result.
In her contribution, the Galway-West TD said: “The banks did this because they got away with it and they knew that the tracker mortgages were good for their customers but not good for the profits of the banks, so they decided they would change that. We hear talk of the culture not having changed. The word is not ‘culture’.
“That is a misuse of language. What the banks have done is wrong, in my opinion, criminally wrong, and there should be a serious Garda investigation into it. At the very least what we should have from the Government tonight is a serious report from the Central Bank and the Financial Services Ombudsman on what they have found to date, setting out what legislation is necessary if the current law is not strong enough and, if it is strong enough, why it has not been used.
“However, the Central Bank tells us that moral suasion should ultimately sway the banks to do the right thing and the Financial Services Ombudsman tells us he is very disappointed by the conduct of the banks. These are the banks that we bailed out. We talk about the €64 billion as if it were monopoly money and the blanket bank guarantee on 30th September and so on.
“I have one minute left and I would like to use it on behalf of those people who have lost their homes, their health and, on occasion, their lives because of the absolutely criminal behaviour of the banks.
“A serious question must be answered about the role of the public interest directors on these banks. What are they doing? A serious question must also be asked about the banks themselves, two of which we substantially own.
“They have done this in our name, but I say clearly that they have not done it in my name. What they have done is criminally wrong.
“I ask exactly what Sinn Féin has asked. Deputy Pearse Doherty has asked at the very least for a weekly report on the progress being made by the banks. I ask the minister for a written report on the progress of a Garda investigation into what appears to be out-and-out criminal activity and theft.
“Not too long ago the Taoiseach, when he was the Minister for Social Protection, ran a campaign on the sides of buses asking people to come forward with information on people cheating the system.
“Perhaps the minister could run a similar campaign now on all the buses throughout all the cities for the benefit of those who were excluded from tracker mortgages when they were entitled to them or put on the wrong rates, asking them to come forward. Why does the minister not run such a campaign if the Government is genuinely serious about tackling what is being wrongly described as ‘culture’?”
Fianna Fáil TD urges supporters to give Jim Gavin first preference
Fianna Fáil supporters have been urged by the party’s Wicklow-Wexford TD to vote Jim Gavin number one and Heather Humphreys number two rather than staying at home on Friday.
Speaking on South East Radio’s Morning Mix programme, Malcom Byrne said a lot of party supporters were finding it difficult to think of casting their vote but not voting for a party candidate, Colm Keena reports.
“Even if you feel uncomfortable about it, Jim Gavin’s name is still on the ballot paper,” he said.
“If you go out and give your number one to Jim Gavin ... you should then transfer that vote to Heather Humphreys. I am encouraging people who are Fianna Fáil supporters who may feel uncomfortable about not voting for a Fianna Fáil candidate to go out and vote Gavin one and Humphreys two.”
He said that, from a Fianna Fáil point of view, the nomination process had been “a bit of a fiasco” but he still felt it was important that party members not stay at home.
“I think it is important that we elect a pro-European, pro-business candidate who has called out Russia over its war of aggression in Ukraine,” he said.
If it made party supporters more comfortable, he said, they should give their number one to Gavin.
Asked by presenter Alan Corcoran what would happen if the party’s candidate won, Byrne said he considered that unlikely.
“If he was elected, then he could either serve, or more likely, he would step down and we might need to have another election,” Byrne said.
Although a win for Gavin was unlikely, “I don’t suppose you can rule anything out,” he said.
Members of legal profession ‘deeply concerned’ by Fine Gael attacks related to Connolly’s work as barrister, says Sinn Féin TD
Members of the legal profession are deeply concerned at attacks by Fine Gael related to Catherine Connolly’s work as a barrister, according to chairperson of the Oireachtas Committee on Justice Matt Carthy
The Sinn Féin TD said Fine Gael was willing to undermine key principles of the legal system in “a desperate attempt to further short-term political goals”.
“Many people across the legal profession are appalled by the behaviour of Fine Gael in seeking to attack Catherine Connolly based on her previous work as a barrister. That includes those who would have previously been supporters of that party,” he said in a statement this afternoon.
“What they see is an extraordinary willingness to undermine the key principles of the legal system in a desperate attempt to further short-term political goals. Our judicial system cannot function without the right to legal representation. All legal professionals represent the interests of people they may not personally agree with. That is how the system works.”
The Cavan-Monaghan TD added that Fine Gael has continued with “this desperate line of attack” despite the Bar of Ireland issuing a clarification regarding the Bar’s Code of Conduct.
“It is a cynical attempt to undermine the huge good will of voters towards Catherine Connolly’s campaign,” he said.
A mural of Independent candidate Catherine Connolly, painted by artist Emmalene Blake, has popped up on South Dock Road in Ringsend in Dublin.
Catherine Connolly accuses Fine Gael of being ‘absolutely terrified’ of her campaign following attack video
Catherine Connolly has accused Fine Gael of being “absolutely terrified” of her campaign, after the party released an attack video accusing the left-wing candidate of hypocrisy for representing banks in home repossession cases.
Ellen Coyne reports:
Connolly has called on Heather Humphreys to withdraw comments she made about her work as a barrister.
“Really, at this point in the campaign I am deeply disappointed that we are talking about my role as a barrister, which I left in 2016. That is what the campaign has come to, as opposed to standing here and expanding on our vision as two candidates in a presidential election, expanding our vision of the presidency, that we are down to talking about what work I did or didn’t do, as a professional barrister,” she said.
The Independent left-wing candidate said that despite the fact that the Bar Council of Ireland have clarified that it is a barrister’s duty to act independently of their personal interests, Fine Gael was “still resorting to these tactics.”
“I think Fine Gael are terrified, actually. I think they’re absolutely terrified that the movement that I represent – and I simply am a symbol of a new movement for a new republic. I think they’re absolutely terrified, and that they would resort to such tactics just reflects on their terror and their fear of the change in Ireland. And they are utterly out of touch.”
Connolly said that Heather Humphreys should “certainly withdraw what she said,” in reference to a media interview the Fine Gael candidate gave on Sunday where she implied Connolly had made money out of people’s misfortune.
Asked if she should have declared her role in home repossession cases when talking about homelessness in the Dáil, Connolly said “there’s no connection with the two”.
“I worked in different roles, I did each role as professionally as I could. There is no connection with the two at all,” she said.
Connolly said all the work she did “impacted on me.” She told journalists that she had acted “with distance” and “professionally” to the best of her ability.
“I saw packed courts, I saw the consequences of Government policies, saving the banks. I saw people being evicted from their houses, directly consequent on Government policy. I saw county registers bent over backwards not to put people out of their houses, and finding every possible way to avoid that.
“This Government and previous Governments had to look at what they did. And people had to emigrate, people committed suicide, directly consequent on Government policy.”
Fine Gael Minister says there was ‘lack of transparency’ from Connolly about representing financial institutions
Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill has said the issue around Catherine Connolly working on behalf of banks in repossession cases is the “lack of transparency” from the TD when she was “speaking so forcefully” on the topic as a TD or councillor.
“Why did she not disclose it?” the Fine Gael TD said in a statement this afternoon.
“Time and again Deputy Connolly stood in the Dáil and spoke on these issues never once declaring her role – she was not silent on the issues, why was she silent on her role?
“Why hasn’t she clarified why she didn’t declare this interest to the Dáil?”
The Dún Laoghaire TD has also said statements this morning from the Opposition parties do not reference banks or repossessions, asking: “why? What is wrong with declaring an interest?”
She added: “Why the silence? Solicitors and barristers across the political spectrum have disclosed, without identifying anyone, their previous professional interest or work in an area of law.
“It is full transparency and often only takes a few qualifying sentences. Had Deputy Connolly done the same, we would not be having this debate about a presidential candidate.”
Political editor Pat Leahy writes that it would take an earthquake for Heather Humphreys to overtake Catherine Connolly’s lead in the presidential election.
He writes: “But earthquakes have happened before in presidential elections and there will be at least the opportunity for some seismic activity tomorrow night when the candidates face off in the final television debate of the campaign on RTÉ’s Prime Time.”
Read this afternoon’s political digest here.
Criticism directed at barristers from all sides of the political spectrum, says Minister for Justice
Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan has weighed in on the story of Catherine Connolly’s work on behalf of banks when acting as a barrister.
Speaking in Dublin today, O’Callaghan – who is a qualified barrister and who continued his practice before being appointed to Cabinet – said the obligation of lawyers to provide legal services was “absolutely essential for the administration of justice”.
“Just because a lawyer takes on a case for a client doesn’t mean that the lawyer is endorsing the behaviour or opinions of that client, they’re simply providing legal services,” he said.
Jack Horgan-Jones reports: O’Callaghan said he did not want to provide an opinion on Fine Gael’s criticism of Connolly, but added: “I have noticed in recent years from all sides of the political spectrum criticism being directed at lawyers because of the clients they represent. I don’t think it’s correct or fair to criticise lawyers because of the actions of their clients.”
He said that for the administration of justice to operate effectively in Ireland, “there has to be parties represented by lawyers no matter how unpopular or how unvirtuous those clients may be”.
O’Callaghan was previously criticised by Fine Gael for representing former Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams in libel proceedings. The Bar Council, as it has done with Connolly, defended O’Callaghan at the time on the basis of the “cab rank rule”.
Some photographs from the campaign trail over the weekend.
Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns has also released a statement in which she says Fine Gael has sunk to “new depths” with their social media video.
Cairns said it is clear that Fine Gael have “nothing positive” to say about their own campaign, and their vision for the presidency, and are instead resorting to “mudslinging in a desperate attempt to damage Catherine Connolly”.
“However, the positive and inclusive campaign that Catherine Connolly is running will not be derailed by these cheap and vicious attacks,” she said.
The Cork South-West TD added the election will be over on Saturday and “perhaps then they [Fine Gael] will realise that the only ones covered in mud are themselves”.
Clearly Fine Gael are now in panic mode, says Social Democrats TD
The Minister for Justice must not remain silent on Fine Gael’s “scurrilous attacks” on the legal profession as part of its “smear campaign” against Catherine Connolly, Social Democrats TD Gary Gannon has said.
Gannon said not only are senior Fine Gael figures, including the former justice minister Helen McEntee, attempting to “besmirch the reputation” of Catherine Connolly, “their outrageous comments are also a nasty slight on the entire legal profession and a gross misrepresentation of how our justice system operates”.
“Significantly, the Bar Council released a statement asserting it is the duty of barristers to be independent and free from any influence in the discharge of their professional duties,” said Gannon, who is the party’s justice spokesperson.
“A number of individual barristers have also publicly criticised Fine Gael’s ill-informed line of attack. Clearly, Fine Gael are in now panic mode – and too busy rolling around in the mud to think critically.”
Labour leader says FG ‘attack video’ is new low
Labour Party leader Ivana Bacik has said as a public representative who practised as a barrister over many years, including while serving as a senator, she is “outraged” at the emergence of an “attack video” by Fine Gael.
“Fine Gael should know better. This attack video is not only a new political low – a new level of ‘nasty’ in this presidential campaign. It also represents a craven and dangerous attack on a fundamental principle of the rule of law in our democratic system,” she said in a statement.
The Dublin Bay South TD also said the Bar Council has made it clear that it is the professional duty of barristers to accept instructions in any case in their area of practice.
Bacik added: “Of course, in no individual case did the fact that I took instructions or represented a particular client mean that I shared the views of those whom I represented. Indeed, it is well-known that the current Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan, who also maintained a professional practice while serving as an Oireachtas member, also represented clients whose views and values he patently did not share.
“It is utterly wrong and misconceived of Fine Gael to mount this sustained nasty attack upon Catherine Connolly merely because she practised as a barrister, represented clients professionally and does not speak publicly about those clients.”
Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore has accused Fine Gael of resorting to “Trumpian attack videos” which is “a new low” in Irish political campaigning.
The Wicklow TD is referring to the video posted by the party on Sunday night attacking Connolly in relation to her work representing the banks in repossession cases while working as a barrister.
In a post on X, Whitmore added: “Do they [Fine Gael] have nothing positive to offer the Irish people?”
Heather Humphreys will be back on the campaign trail in Co Wexford today in advance of various media interviews later.
Catherine Connolly is taking part in a national youth canvass day, with events happening across the country.
There has been a lot of criticism on social media about this video from Fine Gael on Sunday attacking Catherine Connolly.
Elsewhere, Kitty Holland met some Trinity College students to see how important it is for the president to be able to speak Irish.
Last week’s Irish Times opinion poll found that 3 per cent said speaking Irish was the “most important” value in a presidential candidate.
The full piece can be read here.
Harry McGee also has a piece today about four things both candidates should do over the coming days. He writes that Humphreys needs to change her message.
The full piece can be read here.
Good morning. We’re into the final days of the presidential election campaign with the country set to go to the polls this Friday.
As Harry McGee and Katie Mellett note in our lead story this morning, the coming days look set to be dominated by confrontational exchanges between Heather Humphreys and Catherine Connolly after both traded strongly worded personal criticisms of each other over the weekend.
Follow irishtimes.com for updates throughout the day.
