The Communist Party of Ireland recognises that the office of Uachtarán na hÉireann is
largely symbolic. Incumbents, such as President Higgins, have used the office to raise issues
of concern to the people of Ireland, such as homelessness, the genocide in Gaza, the erosion
of Irish neutrality and promotion of the Irish language.
They are, however, precluded from taking any independent political action by Article 13.11 of the Constitution which states that,“No power or function conferred on the President by law shall be exercisable or performable by him save only on the advice of the Government.” Recognising the limits of the office, we believe that the present election is important because there is a clear demarcation between the two candidates representing the government parties and Catherine Connolly who is supported by an ad hoc broad left and republican front.
The government candidates, in particular Jim Gavin the Fianna Fáil candidate, are seeking to
use the Presidential election as an unofficial referendum on Irish neutrality. Gavin, who has
no history of political involvement opened his election campaign by calling for the abolition
of the triple lock on the deployment of Irish Defence Forces abroad. Echoing his handler,
Taoiseach Micheál Martin, Gavin has called for the bypassing of the UN Security Council
when deploying Irish troops abroad, instead relying on decisions made by NATO or the EU.
Neither Fianna Fáil nor Fine Gael campaigned on the removal of the Triple Lock in the last
General Election.
They have repeatedly refused to give the people a vote on the issue. The
Taoiseach is determined to abolish the Triple Lock and the danger is that in the event of a
victory for Gavin in the Presidential Election, he will try to claim that as support for the
abolition of the Triple Lock.
Abolishing the Triple Lock will mean further erosion of neutrality and closer links with
NATO. It will mean diverting billions of euros from health, housing, education and social
services into the coffers of US, European and British arms companies.
It will mean turning Ireland into a target in any future wars launched by the NATO/EU Bloc. It will mean our sons and daughters slaughtering and dying to enforce US/EU/British control over resources in
Africa, Asia and South America. It will mean abandoning the anti-colonial, progressive and
internationalist ideals of Ireland’s long, and unfinished struggle for National Independence
and joining with the oppressors.
The Communist Party of Ireland supports Catherine Connolly’s campaign for the office of
Uachtarán na hÉireann. She is the only candidate supporting the retention of the Triple Lock.
She is the only candidate who opposes the Genocide in Gaza and calls for action not words.
She articulates a vision of Ireland in which the needs of society come before the interests of
the wealthy.
We call on all those who wish for a sovereign, re-united, neutral and socialist Ireland to
campaign for Catherine Connolly in your workplaces, in your schools and colleges, in your
communities, your unions and your sporting and cultural organisations.
TURN THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION INTO A REFERENDUM ON NEUTRALITY
AND PEACE.
VOTE CONNOLLY NO. 1
