Presidential Election 2025

Yes,a boards poll is not peer reviewed,is vote once vote often and consequently as useful as a chocolate teapot

Connolly's answer on the differences between the roles of president and a TD is worth rewatching. With Humphreys, there was a set of soundbites that had been learned for the debate. Connolly gave a measured and careful answer that wasn't a mere soundbite. She may be Left or even far Left on some issues but there is no doubt that she could do the job competently and even understand any legislation presented.

She did defend her govt record yesterday. Said she was in govt and supported the recognition of Palestine.

CC sort of admitted that the otb was useless as in trading ireland had to act with the bloc,

She did defend her govt record yesterday.

Really poor in that part, trying to winkle out of things. She was stumped on pointing to anything on the north. The presenter had to keep reminding her she was a member of the FG government that imposed austerity measures etc.

Absolutely - CC has been in a theoretical world in the main from a public service perspective -very easy to just say would you might do -HH has actually been in government - and Irelands move towards Israel /Gaza situation, whilst late in the day, was still seen as world leading given many other countries dragged their heels

I disagree- I think it’s more to do with the fact that the position of president is quite specific and she doesn’t want to say something that gives the impression that she’s at odds with what the role is about.

Really this is the first presidential election where I’ve seen major serious in the news topics, take over the presidential election discussions- day in day out . I’d much prefer if the candidates were given time to set out their stalls and then quizzed on that - yes we do need to get to know the candidates and their views and their history of what they said and the decisions they’ve made, but honestly after weeks of campaigning I’m at a loss to know what either of them would bring to the role.

No, never.
Paedophiles are not taken off the Sex Offenders list very often if at all.

Somebody who has raped can be, depending on the length of sentence and they can be rehabilitated through the services for such supplied by the State.

You should learn from the sensationalist shock jock responses to the issues here, J. C. MacNeill's outburst has completely backfired on her (being reminded of her support for McGahon and Conway etc) and she has been properly eviscerated by Bacik and Cairns. Connolly, relying again on her actual record as a TD, also came out of it yesterday looking calm and human also.

Were the security systems in place sufficient for purpose and did they allow a bad person to circumvent them?

No idea and not sure it has any relevance to CC's campaign. That is surely a matter for those who are responsible for those systems.

Did Connolly circumvent the security system?

Connolly says No and her detractors say yes.

Not sure how Connolly can prove she didn't and as yet I have not seen anything other than comments that 'she did' from her detractors. The Journal.ie have gone no further and seem to have other info from their 'sources'.

So rehabilitation only works for some.

Yes and in the case of somebody who rapes, you have to show a successful rehabilitation to get off the SOR.

Someone who has been removed from the SOR because they have completed rehabilitation can and should be considered for work. This is one of the foundational tenets of a rehabilitation service that we as a state invest heavily in.

What Connolly's detractors have done here is only highlighted again their desperate hypocrisies.

Whether she did or not, the reality is CC has had no experience in government and HH has - so on that basis I see HH having the edge on that particular point - I’m not going to argue every single issue though as simply it gets repetitive - at this stage I think people are making up their minds on one candidate or the other.
My own view is neither candidates are ideal - My big concern of CC is her vocalisations on our European neighbours - I think she’s pushing us away from an EU. also I don’t believe she has anything of value to further the cause of peace in NI. So I’m not voting for her