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LAST UPDATE | 7 Oct
INDEPENDENT IRELAND TDS have strongly suggested they will back Independent Catherine Connolly in the upcoming presidential election.
The party had initially backed Maria Steen in her bid to get on the ballot paper.
Speaking on the plinth today in Leinster House, party leader and Cork TD Michael Collins said his four TDs will be making a decision on whether to support Catherine Connolly or Heather Humphreys in the coming days and weeks.
He said, however, that his party is firmly against the ‘spoil the vote’ campaign that has been mooted by some in response to Steen’s failure to get on the ballot.
“That’s non-democratic, it’s something that Independent Ireland will not stand for and not support,” he said as he urged people to get out and vote.
His party colleague, Limerick TD Richard O’Donoghue, said he now favours Connolly for the role as he has been treated with a lack of “respect” by Heather Humphreys in the past.
Sounds like Independent Ireland could be leaning towards an endorsement of Catherine Connolly…
— Jane Matthews (@janeematthews) October 7, 2025
Asked who he favours, Michael Collins says:
“I have great respect for Catherine Connolly.. Our politics don’t always align, but you can talk to the woman.”
@thejournal_ie pic.twitter.com/36dFE62wu8
“I’ve had first-hand experience with both candidates. I’ve worked with Catherine Connolly, [when she was] Leas Ceann Comhairle, she was very, very respectful in her role in the five and six years that I’ve been in her company.
“Heather Humphreys, to me, personally, has not been respectful when she came to Limerick on three or four occasions,” he said.
He also echoed Collins’ appeal for people not to spoil their vote.
Asked which candidate he favours, Collins said:
“I have great respect for Catherine Connolly.. Our politics don’t always align, but you can talk to the woman.”
On Humphreys, he said she has had a “good career inside the Dáil, and she feels like she has delivered for the people”.
Meanwhile, some online have said they will vote for Fianna Fáil’s Jim Gavin as a form of protest. His name will still appear on the ballot despite pulling out of the race.
Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín, who was also backing Steen to get on the ballot, urged people not to do this.
“That would be just writing, maybe, a check to Fianna Fáil to cover their election expenses,” he said.
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