Catherine Connolly Backs Down from Gemma O’Doherty Presidency Bid
- Gemma Connolly, a member of the Oireachtas (Irish Parliament), clarified her role in facilitating the nomination of Dolores O'Doherty for the 2018 presidential election.
- Dolores O'Doherty has faced important controversy since her 2018 campaign.
- during an interview on RTÉ's This Week program, Connolly addressed inquiries about whether fellow TDs Clare Daly and Mick Wallace were expected to publicly support her.
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Gemma Connolly Clarifies Support for Presidential Candidate Dolores O’Doherty
Table of Contents
Background: The Presidential Nomination and Controversy
Gemma Connolly, a member of the Oireachtas (Irish Parliament), clarified her role in facilitating the nomination of Dolores O’Doherty for the 2018 presidential election. This followed questions regarding the extent of support from other political figures, specifically Clare Daly and Mick Wallace. Connolly stated she did not endorse O’Doherty, but agreed to help with the nomination process. Ms Connolly was one of a number of Oireachtas members to back Ms O’Doherty’s presidential bid in 2018.
Dolores O’Doherty has faced important controversy since her 2018 campaign. She has been accused of spreading misinformation regarding vaccine safety, stemming from a case involving a man’s suicide, and is also subject to a lawsuit brought by the brother of journalist Veronica Guerin.
The Question of Support from Daly and Wallace
during an interview on RTÉ’s This Week program, Connolly addressed inquiries about whether fellow TDs Clare Daly and Mick Wallace were expected to publicly support her. She explained that neither was available – one being out of the country and the other not near the Dáil (Irish Parliament building) - at the relevant time.Connolly characterized the questioning as a “framing of a dialog,” suggesting more pressing issues should be the focus of a presidential campaign.
This suggests a potential disconnect between expectations of unified political support and the practical realities of individual schedules and priorities. It also highlights the sensitivity surrounding O’Doherty’s candidacy, given the controversies she has faced.
Connolly’s Position on Michael D. Higgins
Connolly explicitly stated that her involvement with O’Doherty’s nomination should not be interpreted as a lack of respect for the incumbent President, Michael D. Higgins. She emphasized her “greatest respect” for Higgins, clarifying that she did not intend to signal any opposition to his presidency through her actions.