Presidential Election.

Housing now 🙄

Sure we can fit a few homeless in the Aras

Ask them how many they'd take in

HH should get some points for empathy. She acknowledges problems in housing. She also says as Rural Affairs minister she did stuff for communities.

Is this the wisest approach for a government party candidate? To ignore problems can appear aloof, while acknowledging them can appear empathetic - but also can get people asking what they are doing about it now.

Gavin is like an octopus being tasered

The government need to do more on housing (Jim Gavin)

What party are you in Jim?!? Ffs...

Point point hands hands...

Our economy is booming and it needs immigrants. Immigrants are being blamed for our problems that have existed for years. Housing caused by handing over housing to private sector 40 plus years ago. Schools and health have been problematic for decades. But of course it’s all down to immigration.

I'd never heard of any of these 3 candidates before a week or two ago. Never watch GAA so never heard of the Gavin fella before… but watching him here on The Tonight Show he is definitely not getting my vote, he says nothing of merit and the way he holds his hands is off putting for some reason Then of the two women, so far Heather is offering nothing and is a very hesitant speaker which leaves Catherine winning for me at the minute just purely on her being the least worst…

They aren't great.

But one of them is still going to win. Because even though Connolly is probably the most relevantly experienced person, her positions are totally and utterly lacking in credibility, seriousness and realism.

She lives on a planet all her own and as we have seen already in the opening days of this campaign, parties that back her are having to qualify her remarks or distance themselves from some of them.

A united left candidate could have won this contest, but they backed the wrong horse, she's a calamity.

Dustin has a view:

CC doing well on housing. Blaming it on "the market" and "neoliberalism". Says Galway County Council not building housing.

HH responds that "Catherine says housing is simple. It's not simple". Points to objections in the planning system. Says "we can't get enough people to build housing" and "it's not just a problem in Ireland, it's a problem in Europe".

CC responds that the local authorities were denuded of resources, not allowing to build housing. This is her most impressive part I think.

Now onto a United Ireland. Cuddihy suggests CC rarely talked about it in the Dail and is only now going so. Connolly says she supports a United Ireland and has visited NI.

HH being asked by Cuddihy should we change issues like the flag and anthem for a United Ireland. She says "I was the first one to bring Arlene Foster across the border to an Ulster final. She was out of her comfort zone. We need to extend the hand of friendship and we need to show that this is a welcoming country".

Gavin on a UI says "My career, my life to date has all been about managing change, big projects...for me the new Ireland is a matter for the governments. From the Presidential perspective it's about reconciliation". Cuddihy then interrupts saying "no it's not", Gavin asks "if you could let me finish please" and then says "who knows what the new Ireland looks like. The most important thing is that we have peace and reconciliation on our shared island.".

Closing statements:

Gavin: "I believe in our country. I believe in service to our State. And I believe in service to the people of Ireland. I believe passionately in the positive role the the Presidency can play. And in my career, everything that I have done , I have turned up. And as president I will show up, locally, nationally, internationally. and what we have just been talking about is growing division. I will be a unifying force to bring people together, and that will be my commitment to the people of Ireland".

Heather Humphreys closing statement:

"I love this country. This country has made me what I am. This country has given me all that I have. I want to reach out the hand of friendship. I want to try to bring unity to communities. I want to support communities. I want to support the volunteers and I want young people to grow up in this community to realise....to know that they can realise their full potential. This is a country of opportunity. Of course there will always be challenges. I am committed to serving the people, and to reaching out to the people and go serving the people".

Catherine Connolly closing statement:

" as president I will listen, reflect and engage with people at every opportunity. And I will represent this country with pride, with courage and with integrity. I will reflect the values that I believe are at the core of our identity, and which have given us such a unique, privileged voice in the world. I will reach out to communities, and I will seek to unite rather than divide. (Then says something in Irish that ends in "go raibh gach duine in Áras").