Fine Gael are doubling down on their criticism of Catherine Connolly and her role in bank repossessions as the presidential race enters its final week, with Fine Gael attempting to claw back a major polling deficit against Connolly.
On Monday morning, Fine Gael’s attacks on Connolly were deemed “Trumpian” by Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns and a “a new low” by Labour leader Ivana Bacik, but Fine Gael are adamant that Connolly was in the wrong to represent banks in the aftermath of the 2008 housing crash.
Minister For Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill has been sent out to defend her party’s stance on the issue, questioning why Connolly’s supporters are “silent on bank repossessions” and furthermore, questioning why Connolly did not disclose the nature of her work.
“The issue here is not the work of a barrister – it is right and proper that everyone should be afforded representation. The issue here is Deputy Connolly’s lack of transparency when speaking so forcefully as a TD or as a councillor on matters such as repossessions, banks and evictions,” the Dún Laoghaire TD claimed.
“Time and again Deputy Connolly stood in the Dáil and spoke on these issues, never once declaring her role – she was not silent on the issues, why was she silent on her role?”
“Why hasn’t she clarified why she didn’t declare this interest to the Dáil?”
Carroll MacNeill asked, “how can those members of the opposition who support Deputy Connolly remain silent on their candidate’s complete secrecy about acknowledging her former work?”
She questioned if the opposition were “comfortable with Deputy Connolly’s work on home repossession and her failure to declare it in the Dail.”
“Did she disclose it to them beforehand? Are their parliamentary parties and members comfortable with this?”
“Solicitors and barristers across the political spectrum have disclosed, without identifying anyone, their previous professional interest or work in an area of law.
Carroll MacNeill said “it is full transparency and often only takes a few qualifying sentences. Had Deputy Connolly done the same, we would not be having this debate about a Presidential candidate.”
“The Bar Council correctly point out that Deputy Connolly cannot discuss the detail of her case work. But Deputy Connolly could have taken the opportunity, as many of her colleagues have done, to preface her Oireachtas remarks – when discussing banks, repossessions, evictions – that she was and is particularly well informed in this area as she has chosen to and represented both financial institutions and indeed, homeowners. It was her field of work.”
“In the Dáil, a democratically elected forum where higher standards are applied, Deputy Connolly choose not to declare this once; or perhaps she can point us to the occasion where she did?”
She noted that the cab rank rule allows for barristers to decline work if there is a conflict of interest.
“So how did Catherine Connolly’s public statements align with her professional work, which she clearly chose to accept as is her complete right?” she asked.
“It is the public’s right to know why she did not disclose this. It is also expected of anyone who wants to be our President.”
“In such a role, openness and accountability are not optional – they are essential to maintaining public confidence.”
Minister For Justice Jim O’Callaghan said, “I don’t think it’s correct or fair to criticise lawyers because of the actions of others,” which hints at tensions within the coalition over the issue.