Gareth Sheridan criticises Catherine Connolly’s ‘aggressive Nationalism’ and her attack on our allies

Catherine Connolly is wrong to engage in a form of aggressive Nationalism and worse, attacking our long-established allies. I fear this is evidence of her Anti-EU politics. Ms. Connolly is hoping to be our next President and her claim that Ireland can’t trust the United States, the United Kingdom and France is an ill-judged over-step.

We will have a new President in less than thirteen weeks and here is Deputy Connolly, a Party candidate endorsed by the Social Democrats and People Before Profit, on the weekend of a US – Russian Summit to achieve peace in Ukraine, expressing what could be interpreted as a pro-Putin stance.  

Ukraine President Zelensky is on record numerous times thanking the EU, USA and UK for their financial and military aid to defend his country against the Russian invasion. For myself, as a non-party, a-political candidate not beholden to any ideology, seeking a nomination under Article 12.2.2. of our Constitution, I am calling for an immediate end to invasions of Ukraine and Gaza.

The death and destruction in Ukraine and the genocide of Palestinians must be stopped forthwith. I commend Ireland’s political establishment for making us one of only a handful of nations to call out the Nethanyahu genocide, but I know all of Ireland is horrified at the IDF escalating to a further military invasion of Gaza whilst children and families there are being starved to death.

Yes, we need the EU, the USA and the UK to do more. Yes, we are uneasy at the unpredictability of the current world order, the Brexit folly of the UK, and the EU possibly creeping towards a military alliance that flies in the face of our long-established neutrality, but the isolationist, aggressive-nationalism that Catherine Connolly is pursuing does not best represent the people of Ireland.

The Ireland that I would like to represent is the one which forged strong international ties on the world stage and built bridges as exemplified in the Robinson, McAleese and Higgins' presidencies. 

Diplomacy and good international relations are a key role and duty of our President under the Constitution and it's quite frankly disturbing that any candidate seeking this high office would go off on such ideological solo runs. Deputy Connolly's comments are astonishing on every level. 

To say that they are ill judged and potentially dangerous is an understatement and clearly she is being influenced by those around her who fail to understand the role and responsibilities of any Irish President as they speak on behalf of our State.

The mind boggles as to what they will make of Deputy Connolly's provocative remarks in our nearest neighbours in the UK, US and indeed in France, the cradle of Republican values and the founding tenets of liberty, equality and fraternity.

ENDs

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