Independent Ireland TD Richard O’Donoghue has said he will vote for Catherine Connolly in the Presidential election, stressing that this is his personal decision and not an official party position.
Speaking on RTÉ’s Late Debate last night, the Limerick County TD said he had formed his view “on the basis of respect” and added that Connolly had “always been very respectful” of his views in the Dáil.
“There are two candidates there that are running,” he said.
“She’s always been very respectful of my views.”
O’Donoghue told the programme that he had worked closely with Connolly in her capacity as Leas Cheann Comhairle and said that, despite their political differences, she had shown him courtesy during their time in the chamber.
“The respect I’ve been shown by Catherine Connolly even though I don’t agree with a lot of her views. She’s always been very respectful of my views,” he said.
“And I’ve worked very well with her as Leas Cheann Comhairle for the last five or six years.”
He contrasted this with his dealings with ex-Social Protection Minister Heather Humphreys, claiming he had twice been “berated from the pulpit” in his own county.
“The same respect was not shown to me by Heather Humphreys in my own county on two occasions, when I was berated from the pulpit…when [she was] giving an address as a minister,” he said.
O’Donoghue also expressed concern at voters’ frustration with politics, saying that he had spoken with long-standing voters who told him they did not intend to turn out on Friday.
“It concerns me in a big way because people fought for the right to vote,” he said.
“And for people to say that they wouldn’t turn up that have been at every election I’ve been at since a young lad…and they tell me that this time they don’t think they’ll even vote – that’s concerning for me.”
The Limerick TD said Independent Ireland would not be issuing a voting directive and confirmed that the party had granted a free vote to its members.
“To me it’s an open vote,” he said.
His comments come after Independent Ireland’s Ken O’Flynn said he would not be backing either candidate in the Áras race.
The Presidential election takes place this Friday between Leftwing Socialist Independent Catherine Connolly and Fine Gael’s Heather Humphreys, after Fianna Fáil candidate Jim Gavin was forced to drop out of the race amid scandal.