Irish presidential hopefuls go head to head in first TV debate

Candidates in the Irish presidential election went head to head on the use of the Irish tricolour by anti-immigration campaigners, Gaza and a united Ireland in the first television debate of the campaign.

Independent TD Catherine Connolly, who is backed by a number of left-wing parties, including Sinn Féin, former senior Fine Gael Minister Heather Humphreys and former Dublin GAA manager, Jim Gavin, who is the Fianna Fáil candidate, appeared on The Tonight Show on Virgin Media One on Monday.

Presidential hopefuls were asked by presenter Kieran Cuddihy about a range of topics including immigration, the housing crisis and the conflict in Gaza.

All candidates said they believe in a united Ireland.

Humphreys said she is a “proud Ulsterwoman” and said “we should strive toward a united Ireland”.

Asked about whether the flag or national anthem may be changed in the event of a united Ireland, she said: “There’s always going to be compromises but that will be up to the government to work on a cross-border basis,” she said.

“We need to extend the hand of friendship.”

Gavin said he is a republican and praised the Good Friday Agreement. He said his professional life brings him to Northern Ireland “on a regular basis”.

“I understand the concerns on both sides of the community and I will work on a regular and frequent basis to build relationships on both sides of the community,” he said.

Connolly said she has met people on both sides and said she hoped “there is a united Ireland in my term of president.”

She said she has met communities “across the divide”.

“I will certainly use my voice, as I have done, in going up to Northern Ireland and meeting different communities,” she said.

Cuddihy also asked the presidential hopefuls about city and county councils stopping anti-immigration campaigners from using the Irish flag.

Gavin said he is “very proud” of the tricolour, with Humphreys adding that the flag is a “symbol of unity”.

Connolly said the language of “Ireland is full” – a slogan used by some anti-immigration campaigners – is “abhorrent”.

Humphreys said the role of the president is to “speak to everybody” and “dispel those myths”.

All candidates said they would take the full salary, which is in the region of €350,000 (£305,000).

Connolly said she would give back a “substantial” portion of the salary to projects while Humphreys said she would give back her ministerial pension.

On Gaza, Connolly said she “hopes” there can be peace in Palestine and raised concerns about the “consequences for humanity”.

Gavin said the Israeli government are “committing war crimes every day” and said he was proud to see Palestinian flags being flown around the Republic.

Humphreys said it is worth passing laws which seek to ban the importation of goods from occupied territories into Ireland even if there is a risk to international investment in Ireland.

In her opening remarks, Humphreys promised to be a “president for all”.

Connolly said as president and by working together, a “united republic” can be achieved.

Gavin said as president, he will represent “every section of society” and be a “voice for all”.

The president of Ireland is the head of state, and although their powers are limited, they represent the country abroad, take centre stage at major national events, and are responsible for ensuring the constitution is followed.

Only citizens residing in the Republic of Ireland – about 3.5m – have the right to vote in presidential elections.

The election uses a system of proportional representation known as the Single Transferable Vote.

Voters rank candidates in order of numerical preference and counting will begin on Saturday 25 October.

The winner will serve as president of Ireland for seven years, until 2032, at which point they will be entitled to nominate themselves to run for a second and final term.