Presidential Election 2025

There is no point in spending money on defence if it not going to be effective. Complete waste of money. Much better spending on necessities Heath etc

What would increased Heath spending lead to if invaded ? A longer war more casualties but ultimately being defeated. Pointless.

I used that as an example of how difficult Ireland’s territory is to defend. It is impossible for a small country.

Much easier for Ireland to concentrate on what Ireland is good at cultural ties, soft power etc. Much cheaper as well.

When I think of the Irish Army I think of Peace Keeping- symbols of Irish neutrality, and helping in severe weather events.

Just weighing in here as someone who doesn't live in Ireland anymore.

Aside from the fact that the POI is largely meant to be an apolitical, diplomatic figure that doesn't directly comment on Government policy, Catherine Connolly would do immense damage to Ireland's reputation abroad if she carries on the way she does.

The fact is that fear of Russia and the need for defence is far more palpable in much of Europe than it is in Ireland. For Estonia or Latvia, say, the memory of repression/Gulag deportations is still very raw and recent. They are tiny countries trying to eek out a stable and democratic existence with a giant aggressor next door. And to this day Russia hasn't moved past the end of its old empire. They're in no two minds about "both sides being as bad as the other". For them, defence and NATO membership is one of the greatest guarantees of their future sovereignty and something they have entered into willingly for their own peace of mind.

And yet there are people in Ireland like Connolly, living thousands of miles from any sort of dictatorship or conflict zone, who feel entitled to dismiss these countries as American stooges. Or to act as if NATO is basically just an arm of the Pentagon and not a vital safeguard that every country joins and engages with voluntarily. I'm not opposed to neutrality myself, but you always see this same patronising line of thinking when it gets brought up: the "ah sure everyone loves us" view, that Ireland is somehow more gallant and humanitarian for not being in NATO, and that any country that is clearly must be run by bloodthirsty ghouls. It's completely frivolous, self-congratulatory rubbish that isn't helped by the fact that we don't do any heavy lifting on our end (ask the average Irish person and they will see no contradiction in being neutral and still expecting the rest of Europe to come to our aid if we're attacked).

There is a distinct impression in a lot of quarters in Europe that Ireland is a freeloader - not just on defence, but also with our reputation as a corporate tax haven etc. It wasn't helped with Moscow Mick and Clare Daly's antics in the EU Parliament before they lost their seats. If Connolly gets elected, it will be magnified greatly. Especially if she keeps on lecturing countries with a recent history of dictatorship and subjugation. It's not just simplistic, it shows a profound lack of knowledge about European history that should really be a basic requirement for anyone wanting to serve in a sensitive, representative role like the Presidency.

I'm not eager about either of the other two candidates but Connolly would be a profound liability for our international position - especially at a delicate time globally.

I really am amused at your apparent lack of knowledge or understanding of rural people. As for who will win, Connolly i believe will top the poll in pretty much all areas. Gavin’s selection is probably the single biggest faux paux that MM has made since becoming leader of FF and Heather , well the only chance she has is if she doesn't talk or attempt to debate in the next 4 weeks!

Some young people dont go to school, dont go to work etc.

Conscription would kill multiple birds with one stone.

How is it working out? The ruzzians are suffering untold destruction of their oil facilities, their advance is reduced to a crawl, they are suffering enormous casualties and their attacks are continually thwarted and this is possible because of the aid contributed by Europe NATO and-grudgingly-by the USA. If these countries had more to contribute and the USA helped with all its resources the Ruzzian attacks would founder on the rocks of Ukrainian resistance. But your response would be, not to help Ukraine but to deprive them of the ability to resist to the best of their ability and to help the Ruzzians.

Add to that, the fact that Russia is now forced to purchase ammunition from North Korea. I encourage people to parse this for a moment. Russia, the largest country in the world, is buying its ammunition from the tiny police state that is North Korea.

Ask yourself what has Putin accomplished in relation to NATO? Well he could easily receive the 'NATO recruiter of the decade award', as he successfully turned Finland and Sweden into NATO cheerleaders.

And as regards Russia domestically, the mask of supposed democracy is well and truly binned. Putin has all but ceased trying to portray himself as a 'democratically elected leader'. Its a dictatorship pure and simple.

Ukraine has accomplished a lot in defending itself. And it can continue to do so, if it is adequately supported.

Ukraine has been, and will continue to be weakened by only 3 things -

• The MAGA reactionary base, whos opinions on isolationism seem to be unstable
• The whims of Donald Trump, whos foreign policy is dependent on how much flattery he has received
• the radical reactionary left, who think 'western imperialism' and NATO are to blame for everything

These are what Russia banks on every day - without these 3 factors, the deck would be stacked entirely against Moscow

Look i keep saying - im happy to back CC on domestic policy - and from the debate, id be interested to hear her thoughts on how the Irish Presidency can influence the global conversation on fighting extremism and speaking for peace.

But her foreign policy is all of the place - and she is on the wrong side of several issues of consequence

I dont want anyone to have to fight. But the Ukrainians want to resist, and are pleading, at all times, for any support they can receive.

Honestly, there needs to be an acceptance of facts here.

This is not the US, telling that world that the South Viatnamese in Saigon are 'resisting communism' and that is why we fight.

Ukraine, going back as far as the turn of the century, has steered itself toward the EU, and democracy. It wants nothing to do with Russia, or to be a Russian Puppet like its neighbor to the north. The war has been disastrous for Ukraine but it continues to fight, and defend itself, and its right to self determination. Even before the 2022 invasion, Ukraine fought against Russian aggression and seizures of its territory.

Id ask you, sincerely - - what do you think caused this conflict. And how would you solve this crisis? What would be your preffered peace initiative, which preserves Ukrainian Freedom, while ending the Russian invasion?

Strange for a pacifist to push for the hiring of someone who is a member of Eirigi, with a record of arms possession.