{"id":348459,"date":"2025-08-16T06:25:17","date_gmt":"2025-08-16T06:25:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/348459\/"},"modified":"2025-08-16T06:25:17","modified_gmt":"2025-08-16T06:25:17","slug":"what-catherine-connolly-says-on-ukraine-the-eu-and-syria-the-irish-times","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/348459\/","title":{"rendered":"What Catherine Connolly says on Ukraine, the EU and Syria \u2013 The Irish Times"},"content":{"rendered":"

With little more than two months to go until voters<\/a> go to the polls, Independent TD Catherine Connolly<\/a> is the only confirmed candidate in the race to succeed President Michael D Higgins<\/a>. <\/p>\n

During her nine years as a TD, Ms Connolly, a committed Gaeilgeoir, has served as Leas-Cheann Comhairle and has proved to be an incisive performer on committees.<\/p>\n

She is highly regarded by left-leaning parties in the Oireachtas<\/a> \u2013 reflected by the fact she has the backing of the Social Democrats, Labour and People Before Profit in the presidential election.<\/p>\n

In a contest, however, that places unremitting emphasis on the individual, their history in politics, their character and their actions, she will face criticism and scrutiny over some of her stances and actions.<\/p>\n

The Irish Times posed questions to Connolly regarding her stance on global affairs, including her views on the war in Ukraine, Russia and Nato, the European Union and a controversial trip she took to war-torn Syria in 2018. <\/p>\n

Here is what she said. <\/p>\n

The Ukraine war, Russia and Nato<\/p>\n

Connolly\u2019s approach to the war in Ukraine has been to condemn Russia but also criticise western military alliance Nato, which she has argued was \u201cwarmongering\u201d before the conflict began. <\/p>\n

It is a stance that could be perceived by some as her blaming Nato for Russian president Vladimir Putin<\/a>\u2019s decision to invade Ukraine.<\/p>\n

\"DuringDuring her nine years as a TD, Catherine Connolly has served as Leas-Cheann Comhairle. Photograph: Alan Betson \/ The Irish Times<\/p>\n

In a D\u00e1il debate on the eve of the February 2022 invasion, Connolly said: \u201cWe should be raging against any possibility of war\u201d and Ireland \u201cshould be using our voice as a neutral country\u201d. <\/p>\n

She criticised Putin as a \u201cdictator with no respect for democracy\u201d but also contended: \u201cNato has played a despicable role in moving forward to the border and engaging in warmongering. Ireland has been hypocritical on many levels.\u201d<\/p>\n

She has also spoken in the D\u00e1il this year about the need to continue to \u201cshow solidarity with the people of Ukraine\u201d. She referred to the refugees who have come to Ireland and said it was \u201creally important we call out what Russia has done\u201d.<\/p>\n

The Irish Times asked Ms Connolly if she believed Nato was equally or partly to blame for the Russian invasion of Ukraine.<\/p>\n

She said: \u201cRussia is conducting an illegal invasion of Ukraine \u2013 it must immediately end its horrific assault in accordance with international law and an immediate ceasefire.<\/p>\n

\u201cI have criticised Nato as its warmongering and escalation towards conflict over the years is at odds with achieving peace in regions across the world.\u201d<\/p>\n

The European Union, US, UK and France<\/p>\n

During a D\u00e1il speech on the third anniversary of the Ukraine war in February this year, Ms Connolly made criticisms of the US, the UK, France and the European Union (EU), and she highlighted the ongoing war in Gaza.<\/p>\n

She has been vocal in her criticisms of Israel<\/a>, accusing it on other occasions of genocide in its campaign in Gaza<\/a> and Palestine. <\/p>\n

During the D\u00e1il contribution in February, Ms Connolly referred to Government plans to scrap the triple lock on the deployment of Irish troops abroad<\/a> \u2013 a proposal she opposes, arguing it threatens Ireland\u2019s neutrality.<\/p>\n

Ms Connolly agreed with another contributor in the debate that there are countries \u201cwe certainly cannot trust\u201d, adding: \u201cAmerica is one of those and England and France are others. <\/p>\n

\u201cWhat is behind their motivation is simply an arms industry, more war, ongoing war, normalising war and making huge profits. That needs to be called out over and over.\u201d<\/p>\n

She accused US president Donald Trump<\/a> of \u201csupporting Israel trampling on international law and reducing Gaza to nothing\u201d.<\/p>\n

Ms Connolly said: \u201cWe do not seem to see any contradiction in calling out Russia \u2013 rightly so \u2013 but not calling out America or any of the other major powers. I have a huge problem with that.\u201d<\/p>\n

She also said she has a \u201chuge problem with the EU, which has lost its direction\u201d, and she criticised EU Commission president Ursula von der Leyen\u2019s<\/a> stance on Gaza which is seen by many to be too pro-Israel. <\/p>\n

[\u00a0The Irish Times view on the presidential election: the race now looks very differentOpens in new window<\/a>\u00a0]<\/p>\n

The Irish Times asked Ms Connolly if she is saying the UK and France, two of Ireland\u2019s closest neighbours, cannot be trusted and if she is a supporter of the EU.<\/p>\n

In response, Ms Connolly said: \u201cThe US, England and France are deeply entrenched in an arms industry which causes bloodshed across the world \u2013 as a staunch advocate for neutrality, this behaviour must be condemned.\u201d<\/p>\n

She also said: \u201cThe European Union, which I support, has lost sight of its foundations: a project developed to promote and preserve peace.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ms Connolly contended: \u201cThe EU has become increasingly militarised under the leadership of Ursula von der Leyen and the European People\u2019s Party \u2013 this direction can only bring pain. As Irish people, we must resist this trend towards imperialism and show support for Palestine and Ukraine as Europeans.\u201d<\/p>\n

She said: \u201cThe EU has lost its moral compass.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Syria trip<\/p>\n

Ms Connolly travelled to Syria in June 2018 along with then-fellow Independent TDs Maureen O\u2019Sullivan, Clare Daly and Mick Wallace. <\/p>\n

At the time of the trip, dictator Bashar al-Assad<\/a> was still in power and engaged in a brutal civil war. The country was under western sanctions.<\/p>\n

During her presidential campaign launch, Ms Connolly said she funded the trip herself, its purpose was \u201cfact-finding\u201d, and she \u201cmet no member of government\u201d and \u201cnor did I ever utter one word of support for Assad\u201d.<\/p>\n

She said the delegation visited a refugee camp outside Damascus and \u201csaw first-hand the destruction of a whole city\u201d. They travelled to Aleppo and met the Chamber of Industry, and also had a meeting with Unicef workers as well as visiting a convent.<\/p>\n

While in Aleppo, the Irish delegation met Syrian businessman and politician Fares al-Shehabi.<\/p>\n

Although he was an Independent MP, Mr al-Shehabi was a supporter of the military actions taken by the government side in the civil war.<\/p>\n

He was deemed a supporter of the Assad regime and placed under EU sanctions. <\/p>\n

After her return from Syria, Ms Daly challenged the Government in the D\u00e1il to issue a visa to Mr al-Shehabi \u201cso that he might come to Ireland as a businessman and Sunni Muslim who believes in secular values and talk about what has happened in Syria\u201d.<\/p>\n

\"TheThe Irish Syria Solidarity Movement has previously criticised the trip taken to Syria by the four TDs, arguing it ‘provided legitimacy to the Assad regime’. Photograph: Sam Boal\/ Collins Photos <\/p>\n

During the same contribution, Ms Daly responded to criticism of Russia\u2019s role on the regime side of the civil war, arguing \u201cin many cases\u201d people in Syria \u201cthink the Russians are heroes\u201d.<\/p>\n

The Irish Syria Solidarity Movement (ISSM) has previously criticised the trip taken to Syria by the four TDs, arguing it \u201cprovided legitimacy to the Assad regime and its narrative\u201d.<\/p>\n

In response to questions from The Irish Times, Ms Connolly rejected any such suggestion, saying: \u201cThe notion that my visit to Syria to gain an understanding of a humanitarian crisis, that the EU had a hand in worsening, aligns me in any way with Assad\u2019s government is not acceptable.\u201d<\/p>\n

She repeated she has \u201cnever uttered one word of support\u201d for Assad \u201cnor the actions of his government\u201d.<\/p>\n

She said: \u201cAssad\u2019s dictatorship committed countless atrocities and human rights abuses, all of which I have criticised on the floor of the D\u00e1il.\u201d<\/p>\n

She said the year before the trip, \u201cmany NGOs and charities on the ground, including the World Health Organisation, urged US and EU sanctions to be rescinded as they were not targeted, serving only to harm innocent civilians, often denying them essential medical supplies, leading to unnecessary deaths. A UN report and leaked memos at the time corroborated these facts\u201d.<\/p>\n

Ms Connolly said: \u201cThese sanctions served as the reason for my fact-finding mission \u2013 I also made this clear on the floor of D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann.\u201d<\/p>\n

Referring to Mr al-Shehabi, Ms Connolly she said \u201cmet with a member of the Syrian opposition in his capacity as a member of the Aleppo Chamber of Commerce to get an idea of how things were on the ground\u201d.<\/p>\n

Ms Connolly also said: \u201cIf activists, NGOs and charities are to be blacklisted for such excursions, we will be damned to repeat the same mistakes in the future \u2013 it is only because of these fact-finding missions that we learned the extent of the destruction sanctions were causing to ordinary lives. <\/p>\n

\u201cSanctions should never result in civilian casualties.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ms O\u2019Sullivan, who retired from politics in 2020, said the trip was a \u201chumanitarian visit\u201d and \u201cwe weren\u2019t going there to support Assad\u201d.<\/p>\n

Asked about their interaction with Mr al-Shehabi, Ms O\u2019Sullivan, said she did not have \u201cany idea of what his political views were. We met him as a businessman who wanted to get the economy in Syria back up and running again.\u201d She insisted the trip was not \u201cpolitical\u201d.<\/p>\n

Ms O\u2019Sullivan is strongly supporting Ms Connolly\u2019s presidential bid, describing the Independent TD as \u201ca woman of integrity and honesty\u201d who is \u201cnot afraid to speak the truth. <\/p>\n

\u201cShe will be an excellent president particularly with her stance on human rights.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ms Daly and Mr Wallace did not respond to attempts to contact them for comment.<\/p>\n

[\u00a0Can you have too much democracy?Opens in new window<\/a>\u00a0]<\/p>\n

\"Áras\u00c1ras an Uachtar\u00e1in, the official residence and principal workplace of the President of Ireland. Photograph: Getty Images Ireland\u2019s Defence Forces<\/p>\n

During a D\u00e1il debate on a Defence Bill last year, Connolly said: \u201cWe do not need an army.\u201d<\/p>\n

Taken in isolation these remarks could raise eyebrows and prompt criticism, given she is seeking to become president, the supreme commander of the Defence Forces.<\/p>\n

The context, however, was a lengthy contribution where she also noted this role of the presidency; the army\u2019s aid to civil power and peacekeeping functions and said she is \u201cvery proud\u201d of the Defence Forces.<\/p>\n

While they are \u201cunder-resourced\u201d, she said \u201cwe all stand fully behind their most basic demands in terms of money and conditions\u201d and made criticisms of the Government over the situation.<\/p>\n

She also said: \u201cIreland will never be able to have an army. We do not need an army. We are an independent, neutral, sovereign country. Our strength lies in our independent voice. Our strength lies in making the UN institutions function better.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Irish Times asked Connolly to respond to the suggestion that saying Ireland did not need an army while highlighting roles it performs, like peacekeeping, is contradictory.<\/p>\n

She reiterated that she is \u201cimmensely proud of our Defence Forces\u201d and its members adding: \u201cbut pride cannot blind us to reality: conditions are worsening.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Defence Forces remain underfunded, under-resourced, and its members underpaid, who are left to serve and live in settings that are far below the standard they deserve. That is unacceptable, and it is long past time for change.\u201d<\/p>\n

[\u00a0The Irish presidency is a moral role much more than a political oneOpens in new window<\/a>\u00a0]<\/p>\n

She said: \u201cThere is no contradiction between what I said in 2024 and what I say today.<\/p>\n

\u201cThen, as now, I was clear: our Defence Forces are defined by their civic duties at home and their peacekeeping work abroad.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey are not, and should never become, an army. Armies fight wars. They are increasingly militarised. They are, by their nature, at odds with a nation\u2019s neutrality.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur Defence Forces exist to protect our people, our sovereignty, and \u2013 in Ireland\u2019s case \u2013 to foster peace where conflict has broken out.\u201d<\/p>\n

She added: \u201cIreland needs our Defence Forces. We must value, respect, and support their members. But Ireland does not need an army.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur true strength is in our independent voice, carried above the shouts of those who beat the drums of war.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat voice must be safeguarded and amplified \u2013 at all costs.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"With little more than two months to go until voters go to the polls, Independent TD Catherine Connolly…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":348460,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5174],"tags":[123360,2000,299,5187,48471],"class_list":{"0":"post-348459","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-eu","8":"tag-catherine-connolly","9":"tag-eu","10":"tag-europe","11":"tag-european","12":"tag-presidential-election"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@uk\/115037020035934767","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/348459","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=348459"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/348459\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/348460"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=348459"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=348459"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=348459"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}