Presidential Election 2025

Chomh náireach 😕 Would this restriction happen in Belgium or Canada or Switzerland?

TG4 & RnaG are restricted from broadcasting interviews with Connolly due to guidelines relating to equal time being available to candidates in the election because Humphreys is not fluent in the language.

Probably the lowest calibre debate of this election cycle, I doubt this one will change any minds.

Heather Humphreys

Probably a stronger performance from Humphreys, this debate is unlikely to impact how she is viewed by the electorate. She lacks the ability to communicate without frequent minor slip ups, and this reduces the effectiveness of any points she may or may not score in a clash. She weathered the government related blowback well, and more confidently defended her time as a minister. Her questioning regarding the recent budget did land some hits, and enabled Connolly to claim an easy victory on topics such as housing, and social provisions. Her strongest moment hinged on the questions surrounding Irish Unity, and she spelled out a clear policy on dealing with issues surrounding Immigration. She weakened substantially in her attempts to attack Connolly over Brexit, and the ‘Farage’ reference was weak, and delivered in desperate fashion, handing an easy win to her opponent.

Catherine Connolly

Clearly the best communicator, Connolly won easy points on housing, and attacking Humphreys for the mistakes of FFG in government. She also attacked the ‘Ireland-is-Full’ anti immigration campaign, by stating clearly that the anger being vented, is misdirected at immigrants. She then pivoted back to the housing crisis as being a precursor to these protests, landing yet another blow on the Government, and her opponent. Her weakest moment in the debate concerned her trip to Syria, which she continues to defend, despite there being much evidence of her interactions with bad actors and criminals. I would not accuse her of dishonesty RE not knowing the nature of said individuals, but it does show a lack of judgement on her part, in not being certain of who she was interacting with. Connolly side stepped the issue of Brexit well, despite Humphreys attacking her on this issue, and she emerged confidently at the end of the debate.

Conclusion

This subdued debate won’t change the outcome of the election, but I would have to give the win to Catherine Connolly again. Perhaps not by a wide margin and owing more to her opponent’s lack of skill, she emerged the stronger of the two candidates.

I still think Humphreys has improved as these debates have rolled on; that said, I fear that any improvement on her part, is merely an attempt to re-arrange the deck chairs on the Titanic. Humphreys consistently fails to register enough points in one-on-one debates with Connolly. I don’t think she can win this campaign, and HH will be depending on some last minute catastrophe within the Connolly camp. If this remote possibility fails to materialize, then it’s over IMHO

It might well do. Depends on the winning margin.

You may be diving to much into this Liam. People simply may just resonate more with Connolly than Humphreys because she relays their fears and views better than Humphreys appeased them. The hurler on the ditch syndrome plays a big part in this. Connolly simply is the voice of what people like to hear, not the reality of what has to be and is. Anti everything is a popular stance.

I'm not sure a debate on RnaG or TG4 would warrant much of a difference but if they invited both candidates to an interview at different times that would surely be in keeping with the guidelines?

One thing that will help them is that the other party in the big 3 couldn't even rustle up a candidate.

I still don't understand how Humphreys was minister for Gaeltacht affairs for so long and still refuses to debate as Gaelige. It's such a poor look for a Presidential candidate. How did she communicate with those communities while minister?

Yes definitely. Although HH is putting her foot in it more often than not these days so maybe time away from the cameras would be no harm

For the record I think it's worse for the minister for gaeltacht affairs not to speak Irish than the President

If I got that job I'd be learning the language

l believe Harris has lost serious credibility in recent times and is essentially a dead man walking. His utterances are less relevant by the day

The leader of the only government party in the race being so obviously kept away from the campaign because he would be toxic to it will only come into focus after the election.

Sean Kelly indicated that FG's handling has questions to answer very frankly yesterday.

Friday may very well do that, however it’s the Fridays into the future that have me somewhat concerned.

When a persons support announce that nobody cares where they got their funding …alarm bells start to ring.