President Connolly

Tell me how · 10-03-2026 04:27PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124301440#Comment_124301440

That's a funny interpretation of the Opening Post.

With the campaign over and President Connolly having been inaugurated yesterday, thought it would be no harm to keep track on how she's getting on as president. A number of people in the campaign thread think she will be a dangerous president, a lot of people think she will be speaking far more openly than previous presidents, let's see.
On her first full morning I heard she is going to a Gaelscoil and they had a bit on Morning Ireland about it - it really does feel like she is putting a focus on the Irish language which is no bad thing.
I wonder though will the limitations of the office start to constrain her a little? Watching a small bit of the inauguration yesterday and there was a whole lot of pomp and ceremony, but it also meant a whole lot of being told where to go, where to stand, when to speak, stuff like that.

It was started to be a general place to discuss her Presidency and outside of some comments about a number of people in a campaign thread being bothered, there is nothing to suggest the "salient points of this thread were to progress the ‘fear’ that Ms.Connolly and the Govt. Would be out of step with each other at some time during her term."

So before you talk about people trying to drag others down rabbit holes, maybe read that OP again and have a think about whether or not what you want is just that people stay in your rabbit hole and your rabbit hole only.

And maybe the next step will be for people to indeed stop derailing the discussion.

Brendan Bendar · 10-03-2026 04:31PM

Keeping to the rules of the office would be a good start.

For Petes Sake · 10-03-2026 04:32PM

Catherine Connolly has the biggest mandate of any politician in the State.

As far as I'm concerned, this is exactly why people voted for her.

Brendan Bendar · 10-03-2026 04:35PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124301475#Comment_124301475

I’m not laughing!

I feel it’s exactly the correct interpretation of the Opening Post.

adaminho · 10-03-2026 04:35PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124301440#Comment_124301440

Ireland has always believed that conflict should be resolved through diplomacy and negotiation, in line with the principles of the UN Charter and international law. That must apply in this situation as much as in any other.

Micheál Martin

“No, I think the Government has been very clear and consistent that the current actions in the Gulf do not have a UN mandate.
“The Government has been consistent in its support for international law.

Simon Harris

What we have witnessed in recent days in the Middle East, and beyond, are not political disputes. They are deliberate assaults on international law, the international laws that have underpinned global peace for eighty years.

Catherine Connolly

All seem in agreement on International Law.

FrancieBrady · 10-03-2026 04:36PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124301440#Comment_124301440

Ms.Connolly and the Govt. Would be out of step with each other at some time during her term.

What essentially is the problem with that?

She isn't setting policy and is giving voice to opinions held by many - as she said she would do.

I'll remind you that no government has had the courage or obviously the need to do anything other than voice a contrary opinion.

We are surely mature enough to accept this.

gormdubhgorm · 10-03-2026 05:02PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124301469#Comment_124301469

deleted

Brendan Bendar · 10-03-2026 05:12PM

Relationship with Government Spokesperson/Coalition Government

Recent Tension (March 2026): In early March 2026, the Irish coalition government (led by Taoiseach Micheál Martin) issued a "thinly-veiled rebuke" to President Connolly regarding her outspoken comments on international affairs.
Foreign Policy Disputes: Following comments by President Connolly on the Middle East conflict, an official government spokesperson noted that responsibility for setting foreign policy "rests with" the Government, not the President.
International Criticism: President Connolly, known for her left-wing, socialist, and pacifist views, has been critical of Western foreign policy and, in 2025, remarked that she did not trust the US, UK, and France.
Middle East Statement: In March 2026, she described violations of international law in the Middle East as "shocking and numbing," urging that Ireland "speak plainly".
Wikipedia +6

Some folk might do well to read those observations…. This is what we are talking about

adaminho · 10-03-2026 05:18PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124301620#Comment_124301620

1 Ireland affirms its devotion to the ideal of peace and friendly co-operation amongst nations founded on international justice and morality.

2 Ireland affirms its adherence to the principle of the pacific settlement of international disputes by international arbitration or judicial determination.

3 Ireland accepts the generally recognised principles of international law as its rule of conduct in its relations with other States.”

Article 29 of the Irish constitution which Catherine Connolly swore to uphold.

JohnDoe2025 · 10-03-2026 05:21PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124301642#Comment_124301642

Given that Iran is not devoted to the ideal of peace and friendly co-operation, subsection 1 is inoperative. As Iran has been in consistent egregrious breach of international law on human rights for several decades, subsection 3 is also inoperative. That just leaves subsection 2, where there is no court to adjudge on the issue, making it inoperative either in the current context.

Tell me how · 10-03-2026 05:23PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124301498#Comment_124301498

Correct, "You feel".

Because that's the rabbit hole you want everyone to run in to.

gormdubhgorm · 10-03-2026 05:25PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124301620#Comment_124301620

The irony is with her comments on international law. It is the weakest of all legal fields. She would know this as a trained solicitor. International law in itself is fairly pointless. As it is rarely enforced or can be enforced. International law is usually used by those who have an aspirational or idealistic view of the world. It is not very practical. Where she ties A29 into it or not.

It is interesting that the government have thinly “rebuked” Connolly. But failed to say anything when Higgins was on about NATO etc. Don’t know what the logic is there?

dulpit · 10-03-2026 05:29PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124301620#Comment_124301620

So is the level of discourse now to just be throw something into AI and paste the results?

tarvis · 10-03-2026 05:31PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124296724#Comment_124296724

rendered toothlesss by the perpetual aggressors.

Tell me how · 10-03-2026 05:36PM

They're all excerpts from opinion pieces from various newspapers, correct? You didn't post a link. You post them as if they're some sort of court judgement. We can all see the angle the media has largely been taking with respect to various topics in recent years. Or is it an AI summation of such articles?

And you then in your next post dismiss the actual guidance for Connolly within the constitution and argue without court judgements or based on your opinion that guidance can be discounted? All while you want her to "keep to the rules of the office".

That's what she's doing, you just don't agree with the outcome.

Seth Brundle · 10-03-2026 05:38PM

Mod: stop posting stuff copied from AI bots!

Cluedo Monopoly · 10-03-2026 05:48PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124301486#Comment_124301486

The Electoral Commission survey after the election found that 55% of respondents believed a president should feel free to speak out on any issue, even if their personal views are not aligned with those of the government.

FrancieBrady · 10-03-2026 05:56PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124301734#Comment_124301734

The electorate have been fine with it since Higgins first term.

The Presidents views do not have to align with whatever Government happens to be in power. Indeed that government could fall anytime during the term of the President.

Seth Brundle · 11-03-2026 10:02AM

Mod: Several posts deleted. No discussion on info taken from AI bots. @Brendan Bendar if you cannot provide proper sources for your facts then don't post those facts!

JohnDoe2025 · 11-03-2026 10:52AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124301734#Comment_124301734

Someone should propose a constitutional amendment to allow for that then.

Cluedo Monopoly · 11-03-2026 11:03AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124303560#Comment_124303560

Done to death. The key wording is "message to the Nation" which is extremely rare. Robinson and Higgins settled the debate.

Tell me how · 16-03-2026 12:47PM

President Connolly mentioning that we shouldn't normalize war in her Easter message is an appropriate comment a day ahead of Martin's trip to the White House.

It will anger some people, but on the other side of the debate him going to the White House also angers some other people.

Personally, I'm fine with him going there as he is head of the government and his role is acting in the best interests of the Irish people and given the economic impact of the US on Ireland, it is still appropriate to maintain the routine in the interest of public relations given how fidgety the guy in the office in the US currently is.

Its for this reason im very happy with having separate roles for head of government and head of state and why it is important the head of state can speak on topics from a moral standpoint as ours do.

The people who dont like her doing that with respect to Gaza, Iran etc, would also say Martin shouldn't because of economic reasons which leads me to think they'd prefer if Ireland didn't just speak against the wars and conflict also.

Brendan Bendar · 16-03-2026 03:34PM

Each ‘side’ should stick to their own realm of responsibility.

It’s fairly obvious and the rules are there.

Ms Connolly apparently stuck her oar in to an area which would seem to be Govt. responsibility.

Nothing too major but at the same time Govt fired a shot across her bows as a result.

All this only after a few months in office……….doesn’t auger well one would suspect.

lumphammer2 · 16-03-2026 03:44PM

Catherine Connolly is 100% right to speak out against normalisation of war …… for too long the likes of Trump have been getting away with mass murder with much of the world remaining silent ….. if more criticised them and did not cooperate with them the likes of Trump would not be as cock sure …..

And this argument regarding speaking out about things damaging the economy cuts no ice ….. Trump is already doing that with this senseless war in Iran ….. President Connolly should continue to speak out against this madness and be joined by everyone else ….. if Trump had a brain at all he'd release that this advice would make him a better leader …..

Brendan Bendar · 16-03-2026 03:53PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124317161#Comment_124317161

I’m fairly sure you are not a worker with a family bring up, a mortgage to pay, a car to run?
Its fine and dandy for MsConnolly to go public on all issues , as she has big bucks , a free house and generous expenses to support her, she is well protected from the vagaries of the current economic arena.

Before she opens her gob on stuff that is not apparently in her realm maybe think of the ordinary Joe and Josephine trying to make ends meet in volatile job conditions.

JohnDoe2025 · 16-03-2026 03:56PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124317161#Comment_124317161

I think you have got the wrong end of the stick.

The normalisation of war hasn't been caused by Trump. It is the Iranian regime who have normalised war by financing and supplying numerous terrorist groups across the Middle East. It is Russia who have normalised war by their actions in Chechnya, Crimea and the Ukraine. It is Afghanistan who have normalised war by building their society based on it. It is Iran who have normalised was by killing 32,000 of their own people.

As you say, the world has remained silent while these regimes have been getting away with mass murder. I assume that our President was speaking out against those atrocities.

Archduke Franz Ferdinand · 16-03-2026 03:58PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124317196#Comment_124317196

you don’t seem to like her very much?

creedp · 16-03-2026 03:58PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124317196#Comment_124317196

Anytime she jibes Trump she should just follow up with the line used by that well renowned FG diplomat. Ah shure it was just a bit of Irish lighthearted craic like😀

https://www.thejournal.ie/simon-harris-donald-trump-gowl-6587542-Jan2025/

Cluedo Monopoly · 16-03-2026 04:00PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124317210#Comment_124317210

You have no idea. Extremely bitter and obsessed. Same for Michael D Higgins.

adaminho · 16-03-2026 04:04PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124317199#Comment_124317199

She did speak out about it last week and ye were in here giving out!

President Connolly

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