Catherine Connolly says she did not make decision to run based on parties' support

Michael Bolton

Catherine Connolly says she did not make her decision on running for president based on the support she would get from political parties.

At the time of writing, Ms Connolly has been backed by Labour, People Before Profit and the Social Democrats.

Sinn Féin is yet to decide if it will back the Galway TD or run its own candidate. Leader Mary Lou McDonald has ruled herself out of contention.

Heather Humphreys will stand for Fine Gael, while Jim Gavin has been picked as the candidate for Fianna Fáil.

Speaking to Breakingnews, the Independent TD says she hopes for Sinn Féin's support, but accepts their final decision, whatever that may be.

"I did not base my decision of if the parties would come behind me", says Ms Connolly.

"I based my decision on the messages I got, and the point of where we (are) in our history, my experience as my election as Leas-Cheann Comhiarle, that it was right to stand up and be counted.

"When I made my decision, I made my decision because it was the right decision for me. I believe I have the characteristics that people want a president to have.

"Of course I want the support of all parties, and people across the floor of the Dáil like they did for Leas-Cheann Comhairle.

"From day one, all of the parties told me they have their own internal processes, and they would come back to me, including Sinn Féin, and I respected that.

"As it turns out, Social Democrats and People Before Profit came back sooner, which was great. Labour were to make their own decision in September, but they came back sooner. I actually thought they were making in September, like Sinn Féin, that was a welcome change.

"The Green Party are still going through their process, and Sinn Féin are going through their process. I did them all to make their decision by September, I will say that.

"The fact that they haven't, I will leave them to reflect on that."

The Independent TD says her election as Leas-Cheann Comhairle in 2020, and the unity in opposition behind the speaking rights row earlier this year, show what the opposition can achieve when united.

"The focus on that unity came back in 2020 in the election for Leas-Cheann Comhairle. I really couldn't accept that we were handing the position on a plate, that nobody was standing.

"I thought about that and discussed it with Thomas Pringle, and we said well they have the votes. I felt that is not a good rationale for not standing, then you would say to your child don't play for the football team you don't have a hope of winning.

"I think that is what propelled me. If someone else in opposition stood, I would have supported them. It was the fact that nobody was standing.

"I stood in the hope that I would galvanize the opposition, and I succeeded in doing that, and I succeeded in doing the job.

"After the last election, the debacle of having a group in Government and out of Government was the second thing that galvanised the opposition, if they get away with this, they are going to get away with anything.

"From my first day in the Dáil, I always we should thought we should stand together on the core subjects."