Everyone in Ireland has trust problem with the US – Connolly

Presidential candidate Catherine Connolly has said she believes every person in Ireland has a “trust problem” with the US.

The left-wing independent TD also spoke about her weekend visit to the Electric Picnic music festival in Co Laois, saying it had “energised her”.

Ms Connolly is the only candidate who has secured the backing needed to get on the presidential ballot paper for the election to replace Michael D Higgins, which is expected at the end of October.

The Galway TD has the backing of Labour, the Social Democrats, People Before Profit-Solidarity and independents, and is hoping to attract the support of Sinn Fein.

During an appearance on the RTE This Week programme, she said she is “incredibly proud” to be the only candidate standing so far.

She added: “I have been canvassing now for over five weeks all over the country. I am just back from Electric Picnic, I still have the wristband on my wrist.

“That was an incredible experience, 80,000 people, let me say I was absolutely inspired by the engagement from people who came up to me to talk about the presidency, the election and the role of it.

“Young people are very much engaged and wishing to talk about the events.

“It would seem to me from my experience going around the country there is actually a disconnect from the official conversations and commentary and what people are feeling on the ground, on all ages in all parts of Ireland.”

She added: “Electric Picnic was absolutely energising.”

Ms Connolly was asked about past comments she had made that Ireland cannot trust the US, England or France.

She responded: “The comments I made in relation to France and America in relation to not trusting them was very much in the context of the genocide in Gaza, very much in context.

“Have I a trust problem with America? I think every person in the country has a trust problem with America.

“We have a president, (Donald) Trump, who is volatile, unpredictable, acting like a bully, bringing in tariffs when it suits him.

“We keep talking about the consequences of tariffs but we don’t talk about the consequences of genocide.

“We have famine in Gaza. Famine has been created in Gaza, created once again like it was in Ireland in 1845, a man-made famine.

“I would love to be talking about my policy in relation to that.”

The Galway TD was also asked whether, as president, she would be prepared to sign off on government legislation which changed Ireland’s position on neutrality.

She said: “The role of the president is to look at the legislation and to see if it is compliant with the constitution.

“Obviously no president does that on his or her own, they take advice from the Council of State.

“You look at the legislation in a very specific manner.

“You scrutinise that legislation with expert advice, you listen and then you make a decision whether to send it off to the Supreme Court or not, with the differing consequences arising from that.

“I have been asked would I be able to carry out that role, I would have no problem carrying out that role.”

Meanwhile, Children’s Minister Norma Foley has become the latest Fianna Fail TD to back Jim Gavin as her party’s candidate in the election.

She told the programme: “We would be blessed beyond measure to have him as a Fianna Fail candidate and ultimately as president.”

Ms Foley was asked why party leader and Taoiseach Micheal Martin had backed Mr Gavin rather than first allowing all candidates to make their pitch to the parliamentary party.

She said: “The Taoiseach has been very clear that the ultimate decision in relation to this will be with the Fianna Fail parliamentary party and he will be accepting of the decision of the Fianna Fail parliamentary party.

“But I do think it is only fair that people do know where the leader of the party stands.”

Asked if Mr Gavin had joined the party, she said: “Not every person who supports Fianna Fail’s ethos and vision is a card-carrying member of the party, but Jim Gavin is very clear if he is to receive the Fianna Fail nomination he will be running as a Fianna Fail candidate.”

Fianna Fail MEP Billy Kelleher has also declared his intention to seek backing, and former taoiseach Bertie Ahern has refused to rule himself out of the race, despite expressing disappointment that his party’s leadership had failed to support him.

Former government minister Mary Hanafin ruled herself out of seeking the Fianna Fail presidential nomination on Sunday.

Its parliamentary party is expected to make a decision on the presidential election in the early autumn.

Heather Humphreys and Sean Kelly are in a race to secure the Fine Gael nomination, after the withdrawal of Mairead McGuinness in mid-August “on medical advice”.

To be eligible to run, a candidate must be nominated either by 20 members of the Oireachtas or four local authorities.

Although figures such as MMA fighter Conor McGregor and Riverdance star Michael Flatley have said they are looking to run as presidential candidates, they would need to have this support to be on the ballot paper.