Debate contribution: Catherine Connolly, President of Ireland

Debate contribution by Mr Gerry Carroll on 3 November 2025.

MLA

Mr Gerry Carroll

Party at the time

People Before Profit Alliance

Date

3 November 2025

Type

Debate contribution

Business

Matters of the Day

Heading

Catherine Connolly, President of Ireland

Assembly identifier

Official Report component 5212745

Read the official Assembly record

Text

Ba mhaith liom mo chomhghairdeas a dhéanamh lenár nUachtarán nua tofa, Catherine Connolly.

The recent election of Catherine Connolly has given people hope, amidst the despair and rising sentiment of right-wing and racist ideas that are growing in Ireland and across the world, that things can be different. Catherine Connolly clearly stands on the right side for people here and across the world and lets us know that things can be different. In the middle of a housing crisis North and South it is important that we have a president who recognises where the blame should lie for that. We have problems with skyrocketing rents, landlordism and homes lying empty. Catherine Connolly has articulated a solution to the housing crisis that is positive and inclusive and that most people can get behind.

In the middle of a genocide and the killing of at least 20,000 children and hundreds of thousands of women and men slaughtered by Israel, Catherine Connolly has been an ardent critic of Israel's actions for years and a stalwart supporter of the right to Palestinian self-determination. Members would do well to listen to her on that matter. As Governments make excuses, wring their hands and, on occasion, fund Israel, it is important that we have a president who stands up on the right side for citizens on the island.

I sincerely hope that this is the last time that people in the North, including me, my family and my community, will not have a vote in a presidential election. It is a crying shame that people who live on this island, travel in it and contribute so much to it cannot play their part in voting for the figurehead of the state. Despite that, Catherine Connolly achieved a record vote. The Member to my right who shouted at me should listen to this: she received almost one million votes — the biggest vote in the history of voting for the Uachtarán, the president of Ireland. It was fantastic to see the parties of the left come together to back Catherine as Uachtarán through the campaign. People are enthused and inspired by the realisation that we can have a different type of politics and that we can have a Government in the South without the civil war, right-wing, gombeen parties. People want a new hope, and, although her position is that of a figurehead, Catherine Connolly provides that hope in droves. It was great to see Catherine Connolly at Cultúrlann McAdam Ó Fiaich in my constituency in the past week. I hosted her there a few months ago at the start of her campaign. It was great to see her back, meeting people, chatting to them and getting a bite to eat. It was fantastic to see her at the Oireachtas na Samhna this week, standing up as a Gaelgeoir for all Gaelgeoirí

North and South. The future is unwritten, but the cracks are starting to appear. Cracks of light are coming through, and Catherine will shine a torch brightly for everybody who wants to see a positive and different future. Comhghairdeas agus beir bua.

517 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Assessment

Not flagged

Jev’s structured answers

Assessed 21 October 2026 at 13:46 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.

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