Connolly ‘seriously concerned’ about US veto over UNIFIL mandate

Irish presidential candidate Catherine Connolly has said she is “seriously concerned” about the potential “misuse” of a UN Security Council veto by the US.

Ms Connolly said there was a need to “double down on strengthening UN structures” amid concern that the US could veto the renewal of a UN peacekeeping mission in Lebanon, to which Irish troops are deployed.

The five permanent members of the UN Security Council – the US, UK, Russia, China, and France – each hold the power to veto and block the adoption of any proposal at the body.

After her campaign team initially backtracked on a pledge to hold a press conference on Tuesday, Ms Connolly made the comments during a brief exchange with reporters at a demonstration outside Leinster House in Dublin.

Asked about her view of the potential ending of the UNIFIL mandate, she said: “I think we’re in a very dangerous position in relation to that.

“I’m seriously concerned about that. I hope that discussions will allow for the mandate to continue.

“But I think it brings into acute focus the use of the veto by America, something that has not been discussed in the Dail at any stage – it has always been the use of the veto by Russia, absolutely right to discuss that.

“But the misuse of the veto by America was never brought into the equation and I really think it is time more than ever that we look at building up the UN as a peace institution.”

She added: “Of course there are problems with the veto and the five permanent members, but the UN was set up after the Second World War to prevent a holocaust, to prevent slaughter, and now more than ever we need to double down on strengthening UN structures.”

The independent TD for Galway has the backing of Labour, Social Democrats, People Before Party-Solidarity and other independents.

Asked if she had been in contact with Sinn Fein about whether it will row in to back her candidacy, Ms Connolly said she respected that the party was going through its own processes but added: “It is taking a little longer than I hoped.”

Ms Connolly was speaking to the media at a demonstration for workers in the Oireachtas broadcast unit, who are considering strike action over pay and conditions.

Many of the workers in the unit who are responsible for delivering live broadcasts of Dail and Seanad proceedings, are paid 12,000 euro on average per year.

Some rely on social welfare supports to survive as they find it difficult to secure stable additional employment outside of sitting days.

Workers argue the Oireachtas could make cost savings by employing them directly as civil servants rather than putting the service out to tender.

Ms Connolly said these workers were being “valued so little” despite bringing the “workings of democracy” to the public.

She criticised how they were left with precarious and uncertain working conditions.