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Irish Times
6 days ago
- Politics
- Irish Times
Micheál Martin ‘definietly not' running for presidency, he says
Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said he is 'definitely not' going to run as a candidate for presidency. Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland, Mr Martin said Fianna Fáil will consider a candidate in the coming weeks after taking 'soundings' from people within the parliamentary party. When asked if he had spoken with Deirdre Heenan, a Derry-based Ulster University professor who has been mentioned in some circles to be the party's candidate, Mr Martin said he had not. 'A lot of names have been floated in association with Fianna Fáil. I'm not responsible for the flotation of any of those names, just to make that very clear. I was elected, you know, I went to the people to say I wanted to serve Cork South Central and I wanted to lead Fianna Fáil into government. 'I made that obligation to the public and that's the context. No disrespect to the presidency or anything, but I gave commitments to the people that I would serve in Dáil Éireann for the next five years and that is what I'm going to do.' At the weekend former Fianna Fáil minister Mary Hanafin, who has expressed an interest in running herself, said it would be 'an insult' to the office of the presidency if her party does not run a candidate . The first declared candidates – former European Commissioner and Fine Gael MEP Mairead McGuinness and Independent TD Catherine Connolly – emerged last week in the battle to succeed President Michael D Higgins. Independent Ireland is open to talking to former chief medical officer (CMO) Tony Holohan and Irish dancing star Michael Flatley , should they seek nominations from Oireachtas members to enter the race, party leader Michael Collins has said.
BreakingNews.ie
6 days ago
- Business
- BreakingNews.ie
Taoiseach Micheál Martin says he will 'definitely not' run for presidency
Taoiseach Micheál Martin has emphatically said that he is 'definitely not' going to run as a candidate for the presidency. Speaking on RTÉ radio's Morning Ireland, Mr Martin said that Fianna Fáil will consider a candidate in the coming weeks after taking 'soundings' from people within the parliamentary party. Advertisement When asked if he had spoken with Deirdre Heenan, Mr Martin said he had not. 'A lot of names have been floated in association with Fianna Fáil. I'm not responsible for the flotation of any of those names, just to make that very clear. I was elected, you know, I went to the people to say I wanted to serve Cork South Central and I wanted to lead Fianna Fáil into government. "I made that obligation to the public, and that's the context. No disrespect to the presidency or anything, but I gave commitments to the people that I would serve in Dáil Éireann for the next five years, and that is what I'm going to do." The Taoiseach also spoke about the National Development Plan, outlining the various funding sources, including projected surpluses, receipts from Apple, and funds from the Climate and Nature Fund. Advertisement "We are projecting surpluses out over the next number of years. There is the additionality of €20 billion from, as you know, the receipts from Apple, about €14 billion, all of them, will go towards the NDP, about €3 billion in terms of the AIB shares sales and a further close to €3 billion from the Climate and Nature Fund," he said. Mr Martin also emphasised the importance of infrastructure investment for job creation and economic growth, noting that the government will consider various scenarios, including IMF forecasts. 'Investment in infrastructure is important and critical for the future of jobs in this country. And we will look at all scenarios. Even the IMF is predicting, by the way, that we, in and around, and suggesting that we this capacity over the next five years in its forecast in terms of total expenditure spent by the Irish government in its analysis. 'Transport alone is receiving very substantial billions, well over €22 billion plus. So public transport will be a key feature of that. The bigger issue, which will be more private sector-driven, will be offshore wind and the development of renewables in our country. I think that's the big ticket item in respect of emissions reductions and switching from a dependence on imported fossil fuels to our own generated renewables. Advertisement "There is no way you would get to 300,000 if you don't have the private Sector contributing a significant number of houses in addition to those that will be provided as a result of the national development plan." Mr Martin added that by 2030, there will be substantially more houses built, 'there'll be far more schools built. I mean, in the last NDP, 800 schools were built. Okay, people give this impression that very little was done with the last NDP, a hell of a lot was done through the last NDP. A whole lot of hospitals were built. 'Active travel, as I said, broadband, for example, has made great strides in terms of that capital plan and the last NDP didn't. Technological University of Grangegorman was also about it; 170 kilometres of road were built, so a lot got done. So a lot of those projects, more and more of those will get done in the next time. 'Take Iarnród Éireann did extraordinarily good work under the last National Development Plan. The transformation of Kent Station, for example, is a good example of that. A lot of the universities, there will be good research projects invested and completed across the university sector," the Taoiseach said. Advertisement "I think this development plan, for example, if you add it all up, and the Minister will give greater detail over the next number of weeks, will be a very significant one for research for universities. And that will add to the competitiveness of our economy, and that's important.'
BreakingNews.ie
14-07-2025
- Politics
- BreakingNews.ie
Explained: Who is presidential candidate Catherine Connolly?
Independent TD Catherine Connolly has confirmed she will launch her presidential election bid next week. The Galway West TD said she believes she has enough support to get on the ballot. Advertisement But who is Catherine Connolly? And what are her views? Background Connolly is an independent politician who has served as a TD for the Galway West constituency since 2016. She served as Leas-Cheann Comhairle of the 33rd Dáil from July 2020 to November 2024, and was chair of the Committee on the Irish Language, the Gaeltacht and the Islands from 2016 to 2020. She was Mayor of Galway from 2004 to 2005. Advertisement In 2006, Connolly resigned from the Labour Party after she was denied her wish to contest the Galway West constituency as running mate of Michael D. Higgins. Prior to her election to Dáil Éireann in 2016, Connolly was a City Councillor for 17 years having been first elected to Galway City Council in the West local electoral area in June 1999 and subsequently re-elected in the South local electoral area in 2004, the same year she was elected Mayor of the City. Views In May of this year, the Phoenix described Connolly as a "long-time socialist" who had been regarded as "left-wing" and an "Irish republican" during her time in the Labour party. She has been outspoken on her views regarding Gaza. In the Dáil earlier this month, she accused Israel of being a 'genocidal state'. Advertisement "I see the narrative that continues from the government despite the good steps that have been taken," she said. "There's a narrative that utterly fails to condemn Israel for the genocidal state that it is. We talk as if history started on October 7th. It certainly did not. "We condemn without hesitation what happened, but no context given, no history given at all." She then criticised labelling what happened between Iran and Israel as "conflict". Advertisement "As if Iran wasn't attacked in an unprovoked attack by a genocidal government that went in. And our government and our Tánaiste calls that a mutual conflict where they attacked each other," she said. "Now that's the type of narrative that makes me very, very angry, and deals a terrible blow to our credibility as an independent soverign state, a republic, with a duty to speak out, a duty to call out power abuse no matter where that is. And at this stage, it's Israel, and absolutely Israel." The Irish Times reports that Connolly was vocal in the lead-up to the abortion referendum in 2018, insisting the Eighth Amendment 'simply has to go' and it is 'time to trust women to make decisions'. On Irish neutrality, she said it is threatened 'by the warmongering military industrial complex' in Europe. Advertisement Connolly has said the housing and homelessness crises have been "caused by government policy". Speaking in the Dáil last month, she said: "Each policy from each government has intensified the crisis because you have failed to recognise, deliberately so, that housing is a basic human right, and you've dealt with it like an asset and allowed the market to provide. "And when the market didn't provide, you brought in every possible scheme to support the market."
Irish Times
11-07-2025
- Politics
- Irish Times
High Court reserves judgment in TDs' cases taken over super-junior ministers
The High Court has reserved its judgments in two similar cases brought by Opposition TDs alleging the attendance of super-junior ministers at meetings of Government is unconstitutional. The cases brought by Sinn Féin TD Pa Daly and People Before Profit-Solidarity TD Paul Murphy point to article 28 of Bunreacht na hÉireann, which limits the number of Government members to 15 – including the taoiseach – and provides that they meet and act as a collective authority. Senior Government ministers are appointed by the President of Ireland on the advice of the taoiseach and with the prior approval of Dáil Éireann. 'Ministers of State attending Cabinet', or super-junior ministers, are appointed by the Government on the nomination of the taoiseach. Super-junior ministers participate at Government meetings but do not vote. READ MORE At present there are four super-junior Ministers attending Cabinet: Fianna Fáil's Mary Butler (who is also chief whip), Hildegarde Naughton of Fine Gael, and Noel Grealish and Seán Canney of the Regional Independent Group. They are not parties to the cases. Following the conclusion of submissions in both cases on Friday, High Court president Mr Justice David Barniville, on behalf of the three-judge divisional court, reserved judgment in the actions. Closing the State's defence to Mr Murphy's action, Catherine Donnelly SC said aspects of the case were uncertain and incoherent, and said the case 'rests entirely' on a series of 'obscure distinctions'. One of these distinctions, Ms Donnelly said, was drawn between the attendance of the chief whip, attorney general and secretary general at Cabinet, and the attendance of ministers of state. The first group, Mr Murphy's side contends, assists in Government deliberations in accordance with the Constitution, while the ministers of state participate in deliberations in breach of the Constitution, Ms Donnelly said. Ms Donnelly submitted this was an 'unsustainable distinction'. Counsel also said Mr Murphy's side was asking the court to distinguish between political influence exercised by ministers of state outside the Cabinet room, and same exercised within the Cabinet room. Political influence outside the Cabinet room, however far-reaching, is constitutional, but inside the room, political influence is unconstitutional, according to Mr Murphy's side, Ms Donnelly said. Ms Donnelly said the court was being asked by Mr Murphy to make a ruling based on the subjective experience of how a Minister of State 'might feel', referencing former super-junior minister Finian McGrath's evidence in the case. Mr McGrath, who served as Minister of State for Disability in 2016-2020, told the court this week he was treated as a 'full minister' while attending Government meetings and that he on occasion succeeded in blocking or amending Cabinet decisions. Ms Donnelly said the case turned on whether or not participation in Government meetings outweighed other clear, uncontested and definitive distinctions between super-junior ministers and senior Government ministers. Closing Mr Murphy's case, John Rogers SC, appearing with barristers Paul Gunning and Mollie Higgins and instructed by KM solicitors, said super-junior ministers' participation in the 'unit' of Government 'offends' the Constitution. Mr Rogers said there was clear evidence of active participation by ministers of state in the government of taoisigh Enda Kenny and Leo Varadkar in 2016-2020. He said it was their case that this practice was continuing in the current Government. He rejected Ms Donnelly's labelling of Mr McGrath's evidence as subjective, asserting Mr McGrath engaged in 'participation of a high order' during his time as a super-junior minister. Mr Rogers said John Callinan, the secretary general to the Government, was unable to point to an authority stipulating super-junior ministers attend Government. 'There is no source, authority – the only authority for the Government is in article 28,' he said. Attorney General Rossa Fanning led the State's defence of the cases. Mr Daly's case was presented by Feichín McDonagh SC, appearing with barristers Brendan Hennessy and John Biggins and instructed by Rogers solicitors.
BreakingNews.ie
09-07-2025
- Politics
- BreakingNews.ie
Super junior ministers treated 'identically' to senior ministers, court told
Super-junior ministers are treated 'identically' to senior ministers at meetings of Government and have the ability to influence Government decision-making, former Cabinet member Shane Ross has said. Mr Ross, who served as Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport from 2016 to 2020, was on Wednesday giving evidence at the hearing of People Before Profit-Solidarity TD Paul Murphy's High Court action challenging the attendance of super-junior ministers at Cabinet meetings. Advertisement During his cross-examination of Mr Ross, the Attorney General Rossa Fanning claimed Mr Ross illegally breached a Constitutional obligation to respect the confidentiality of Cabinet meetings by publishing a book with accounts of discussion at such meetings. Mr Ross denied any illegality. The Cabinet confidentiality provision is one of several sections of the Constitution Mr Murphy's case claims is breached by the attendance of super-junior Ministers at Cabinet. Among the reliefs sought by Mr Murphy is an injunction restraining super-junior Ministers from going to Government meetings. Minister of State attending Cabinet, or super-junior ministers, are appointed by the government on the nomination of the Taoiseach. Advertisement They participate at government meetings but do not vote. Senior government ministers are appointed by the President of Ireland on the advice of the Taoiseach and with the prior approval of Dáil Éireann. Mr Fanning is leading the defence to the proceedings brought against the Taoiseach, the Government, Ireland and the Attorney General. The hearing into Mr Murphy's action began on Wednesday, immediately following the conclusion of submissions in a similar case brought by Sinn Féin TD Pa Daly. Advertisement Led in his evidence by John Rogers SC, Mr Ross said super-junior ministers were treated 'identically' to senior ministers in the context of Cabinet meetings during his tenure in Government. Mr Ross said they participated fully in discussions at meetings, and agreed that they were never 'curtailed' from participating by virtue of their 'nominally lower status'. Mr Ross agreed that super-junior ministers were able to influence Government decision-making. On one occasion, Finian McGrath, a super-junior minister between 2016 and 2020, 'changed the Government's mind' on a specific Cabinet decision after he threatened to resign, Mr Ross said. Put to him by Mr Fanning that there is a difference between having political influence and being a member of Government, and that many people can exercise political influence, Mr Ross said being present at Cabinet is 'not just a matter of political influence'. Advertisement Super-junior ministers' presence at meetings gives them a 'special influence' on legislation, Mr Ross said. 'I saw it – they have a much greater influence than other ministers of state.' Closing his cross-examination, Mr Fanning put to Mr Ross that he breached the Constitutional obligation to respect the confidentiality of Cabinet meetings in a book he wrote containing accurate descriptions of such meetings. The book, his 2020 title In Bed with the Blueshirts, was 'an act of calculated and deliberate illegality', Mr Fanning put to him. The book, Mr Fanning claimed, was in contemptuous disregard of the Constitution. Mr Ross denied any illegality and said the book pertained to political matters of public interest. 'I thought it was justifiable, there was plenty of precedent for it,' he said. Advertisement In the witness box, Mr Murphy said super-junior ministers are acting as de facto members of Government, not accountable or approved by the Dáil. Earlier, opening Mr Murphy's case, Mr Rogers said the people of Ireland have a Constitutional right to choose their 'rulers', and the Constitution only provides for 15 members of Government to act as those 'rulers'. Similar to Mr Daly's case, Mr Murphy's case points to article 28 of the Constitution, which limits the number of government members to 15, including the Taoiseach, and provides that they meet and act as a collective authority. Mr Rogers said their case is challenging the arrangement whereby super-junior ministers attend meetings of government consistently and participate in Cabinet discussions as though they are members of government. 'There is no law whatsoever to say that a Minister of State is permitted to be in the government,' Mr Rogers said. He said the Taoiseach and the Government had 'usurped a power they don't have' to bring strangers – in a constitutional sense – into the Government room, into the council chamber. Mr Rogers submitted that a 'democratic principle' underpins the process by which deputies are nominated to Government by the Taoiseach, and approved by the Dáil, describing it an indirect election or approval on behalf of the people. Counsel submitted that super-junior ministers attend at Cabinet and participate in Government deliberations and decisions without any process of approval in the Dáil – unlike the 15 members of Government. 'The Taoiseach nor the Government, cannot hollow out, empty, give away, the expansive powers given to them by the people in article 28,' he said. The case, sitting before a three-judge divisional court, continues, with historian Diarmaid Ferriter and former super-junior minister Finian McGrath expected to give evidence.
