Member's statement: Catherine Connolly: First Official Visit to the North
Member's statement by Mr Pádraig Delargy on .
- MLA
- Mr Pádraig Delargy
- Party at the time
- Sinn Féin
- Date
- 9 February 2026
- Type
- Member's statement
- Business
- Members' Statements
- Heading
- Catherine Connolly: First Official Visit to the North
- Assembly identifier
- Official Report component 5369030
Read the official Assembly record
Text
I rise to mark the first official visit of Uachtarán na hÉireann
, Catherine Connolly, to the North: a momentous occasion of pride and significance across our society. An t-uachtarán
campaigned for her presidency on the basis that the office of president is one for all the people of Ireland and that she would use her role to be a leader for communities across our country. A landslide victory in her election, with her message of a positive and progressive vision, vindicated that. The president committed to lead from the front, in word and deed, to represent the voices of all Irish citizens. I had the pleasure of welcoming her to a number of functions in Derry. She met business and civic leaders in our Guildhall before meeting the families of those murdered and injured on Bloody Sunday. The president spoke with compassion, understanding and an appreciation of what the Bloody Sunday families have endured and their role in inspiring others to stand up and demand truth and justice. President Connolly also visited the Siege Museum, recognising that, for many from a traditionally unionist background, that represents a significant space. Her visit symbolised the inclusion and mutual respect that must be afforded to all communities. Every person with whom I spoke talked of an t-uachtarán's
humility, of how she took time to listen and of a real sense of pride and confidence in her leadership. Catherine Connolly pledged to be a president for all, and her visit to the North reflects that. She carried out her leadership in a dignified manner with her characteristic decorum. Our society would be a much better place if more people showed the same dignity and respect as Catherine Connolly. In stark contrast to the president's positive and strong leadership, we had the belligerent attitude of the DUP, particularly the East Derry MP, Gregory Campbell, which reflects disrespect not only towards our president but to the wider nationalist community and, indeed, all those who hold an Irish identity. It shows deep disrespect to all those who stray outside the DUP's very narrow world view. Those attitudes do not reflect the majority of citizens in the North, and Catherine Connolly, our president, will be very welcome to return to Derry, Belfast and any other part of our country.
382 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.
Assessment
Jev’s structured answers met the documented threshold for “not flagged”.
- Overall probability that the activity is being used to promote, exploit or escalate an identity-based controversy: 0.46 (flagging needs at least 0.70; at or below 0.30 is not flagged).
- Criteria met: Identity framing (0.90); Controversy escalation (0.70).
- The text criticises or condemns the framing or division (0.71).
- Subject area: Sectarianism, hate crime and community relations.
- The overall probability was low and the text did not adopt any identity-based framing.
This is an AI-generated assessment of the text, made against published criteria. It is not a finding of fact about the MLA or their intentions. The Assembly record itself is the fact.
Jev’s structured answers
| Question | Probability | Met? |
|---|---|---|
| Identity framing | 0.90 | Yes |
| Sectarian or communal antagonism | 0.22 | No |
| Cultural grievance politics | 0.42 | No |
| Dog-whistle messaging | 0.46 | No |
| Controversy escalation | 0.70 | Yes |
| Legitimate policy scrutiny | 0.06 | No |
| Overall judgement | 0.46 | Between thresholds |
| Option | Probability |
|---|---|
| No identity-based framing | 0.08 |
| Reports or questions it | 0.00 |
| Criticises or condemns it (chosen) | 0.71 |
| Adopts it | 0.21 |
| Subject | Probability |
|---|---|
| Sectarianism, hate crime and community relations | 0.92 |
| Legacy of the Troubles, victims and paramilitarism | 0.06 |
| Constitutional question, Brexit, the Windsor Framework and sovereignty | 0.01 |
| Another identity-related subject | 0.01 |
| No identity-related subject | 0.00 |
Assessed 21 October 2026 at 14:31 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.
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