Race to the Áras: Candidates clash on Russia, rent and border polls during tetchy second debate

Irish presidential candidates, (left to right) Fine Gael's candidate Heather Humphreys, independent candidate Catherine Connolly, who is backed by Sinn Fein and Fianna Fail candidate Jim Gavin, during a debate on The Week in Politics at RTE studios in Donnybrook, Dublin. Picture date: Sunday October 5, 2025.

Independent TD Catherine Connolly has said that "no rules were broken" in her employment of a woman who had been convicted of firearms offences.

The second live presidential debate on RTÉ's The Week In Politics saw Ms Connolly and Fine Gael's Heather Humphreys clash on the employment of former Eirigí member Ursula Ní Shionnáin to a committee on the Irish language in 2018. 

Ms Humphreys suggested that "rules had been circumvented", a charge Ms Connolly rejected.

Ms Connolly said that she "admired" Ms NÍ Shionnáin as "one of the small success stories" of the prison system.

The Fianna Fáil candidate Jim Gavin, meanwhile, said that he was "sorry" if he had failed to pay back a former tenant €3,300. 

Mr Gavin admitted that he hadn't registered that tenancy which ended in 2009 as had been required by law and that "the majority of people" hadn't at the time. 

He said that 2009 was a "stressful time" for his family as they had gotten into financial difficulties but that he would "look into it...with urgency".

Ms Humphreys rejected the suggestion by her former cabinet colleague Shane Ross that she had been opposed to drink-driving legislation. 

She said that she had voted in favour of the laws twice. When it was put to her that she did not bring about an apology to the family of Shane O'Farrell when she was Justice Minister, Ms Humphreys said that she was happy that an apology had been delivered this year by Justice Minister Jim O'Callaghan.

All three candidates were asked about the lack of a debate in Irish, with Ms Connolly the only candidate who is fluent. 

Ms Humphreys is a former Gaeltacht minister and pledged in 2014 to re-learn Irish. She said that she would feel at a disadvantage in such a debate. 

Answering as Gaeilge, Ms Connolly said that there should be a debate in Irish using either subtitles or proxies.

On the issue of a united Ireland, Mr Gavin backed up his party leader Micheál Martin who has ruled out a border poll in the seven years of the next presidency. 

Mr Gavin said that he felt that there was more work to do on the issue. Ms Connolly said that those in the North should have a vote in the election and that there was a "lack of political will" to extend the franchise. Mr Gavin agreed, saying that he would "keep highlighting these issues to government".

Asked why they each should be President over the others, Mr Gavin said that his relative lack of political experience was not relevant.

"The President is the first citizen, not the first politician," he said.

Ms Humphreys in response said that for her part, people "look at your experience when you apply for a job".

Ms Connolly, meanwhile, said that she would be "an independent candidate with an independent mind".

On the issue of neutrality, Ms Humphreys said that she supports Ireland's neutrality, but did not disagree with plans to alter the Triple Lock. 

Mr Gavin said that a referendum on that issue was a matter for the Government. He said that there was no question that there is a Russian threat to Europe. 

Ms Connolly, for her part, said that Ireland was a "post colonial country in a unique position" and that a "wise country with a wise president" would build upon that. She said it was "completely inaccurate" to suggest that she has not criticised Russia's invasion of Ukraine. 

Ms Humphreys said that there was no question that Russia is the aggressor in that war.

Asked about comments she made in the first debate which suggested that the Occupied Territories Bill would ultimately do little, Ms Humphreys said that the bill was "just one more lever". Asked about the potential cost to the economy of the bill, Ms Connolly said that "we need to look at the cost to humanity of genocide".

On the issue of US president Donald Trump, Ms Connolly said that she can "carry out any job professionally" but that she was "not into flattery".