The Indo Daily: Mary Lou McDonald, Ireland's next president?
On Wednesday, Catherine Connolly officially joined the hunt, launching her Independent campaign for the Presidency, promising not to take her full salary - but looking forward to a United Ireland "very soon".
Ms Connolly defended a trip to Syria with Mick Wallace, Clare Daly and Maureen O'Sullivan when dictator Bashir al-Assad was in power, and said she was "right at the time" when she previously backed journalist Gemma O'Doherty for a Presidential run.
The Galway West Independent rejected the idea that she was the "continuity candidate" after 14 years of Michael D Higgins, for whom she wanted to be a running mate.
Earlier in the week former EU Commissioner Mairead McGuinness predicted the presidential campaign will be 'full on' after being confirmed as the Fine Gael candidate.
'I am conscious of the opportunity and challenge ahead, given the very important constitutional role of the President, and the esteem in which the office is held by the people,' she wrote.
Today on The Indo Daily, Kevin Doyle is joined by Mary Regan, Political Editor with the Irish Independent and Fionnán Sheahan, Ireland Editor with The Irish Independent, to discuss the current state of play in the race to the Áras and grade the candidates on their performances so far.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Independent
an hour ago
- Irish Independent
Letters: Youth can be no excuse for those responsible for acts of violence on our streets
I am being asked by my friends in India about how safe Ireland is. Some of them were earlier asking if their children could come and study in Ireland, as it was considered safe. They were prepared to spend thousands of euro to send them for third-level education. Now I am in a dilemma. What can I say to them? My country, Ireland, is carrying a bad name. It is time to determine who is responsible for creating this environment of fear. The teens who are usually involved in such incidents get away because they are young. This does not excuse them, as they cause life-altering damage to a person's life. This affects at least five more lives who are dependent on them. How can the law be oblivious of the damage done to families on the excuse of the perpetrator being young? If there is any politics in it, the individuals need to be singled out and made to pay a price. In the US, the parents of such criminals are being punished for the damage their children do. Can that not be followed in Ireland? And how about treating such criminals as adults in Irish courts? Pradeep K Chadha, Castleknock, Dublin 15 Would ending Triple Lock mean Ireland was free to intervene in Palestine? Assuming the Triple Lock on our neutrality is eventually lifted, can we expect the Irish Government to send troops on humanitarian duties to ensure food gets into Gaza and people are protected? I mean, we would be free of the UN mandate and seeking its approval. Or would we require US-, UK- and EU-supporting Israel's approval to do the above? John Cuffe, Co Meath Who will pay to rebuild Gaza after the conflict is finally brought to an end? A recent commentator rightly underlines that 'recognition alone cannot substitute for immediate, concrete action that includes a ceasefire, unimpeded humanitarian access and accountability for atrocities'. ADVERTISEMENT This is the very minimum series of actions necessary to go towards the rebalancing of the appalling man-made humanitarian tragedy imposed on the Palestinian people by the state of Israel. But so much more needs to be done, inter alia – the imposition of sanctions on Israeli ministers, military personnel and officials responsible for war crimes; employment of all international mechanisms to bring the culprits to justice; and the ending of all preferential trade and service arrangements for Israel under the EU-Israel Association Agreement. Finally, and crucially, to date I have heard no mention of war reparations for the deaths, destruction and dispossession suffered by the Palestinians. Who will have the courage to demand these compensations from Israel? Or will it be the EU, in the wake of its pathetic political inaction throughout the last two years, that will transfer vast sums of money for the rebuilding of Gaza, in an effort to salve its conscience and regain whatever little moral authority remains? Tom McGrath, Ashford, Co Wicklow Pope Leo has a chance to send a powerful message by visiting Middle East The Catholic Church has an opportunity to make a positive impact on the dire situation in Gaza. Shortly after his election, the late Pope Francis visited the island of Lampedusa and highlighted the indifference to migrants and asylum- seekers . A visit to Gaza by Pope Leo would have an equal impact on the dire situation of the Palestinian people as they die from bullets and starvation. Even if he got as far as the Rafah crossing, it would send out a powerful message to the people of Gaza that religion has no borders. Brendan Butler, Drumcondra, Dublin Pharma tariffs are a risk to Ireland, but it's consumers in US who will suffer most US president Donald Trump has announced that pharmaceutical tariffs could eventually reach up to 250pc. He referenced Ireland's strength in the pharmaceuticals sector in an interview on Tuesday. It seems Trump doesn't give a hoot about the ordinary American person as he considers such an extortionate tariff. Medical care in America is already outrageously expensive, and when you throw a possible 250pc on pharmaceuticals, the collateral damage of such a punitive tax will be felt by everyone. This latest threat certainly raises big questions for Ireland. It's reported that a deal between the EU and the US is getting closer. One is curious as to what the terms of such a deal will be. The pharmaceuticals and medtech sectors collectively employ over 70,000 people within the Industrial Development Agency (IDA) network. This includes both direct employment in manufacturing and indirect roles associated with the industry. The sector is a significant contributor to Ireland's economy, with pharmaceutical exports representing 39pc of the total. John O'Brien, Clonmel, Co Tipperary Thanks to my teacher for always encouraging his students to 'speak proper' On Pat Kenny's radio show last Monday, there was an item on the widespread misuse of grammar these days. For example: 'He was sat there.' I was lucky that in primary school we had a teacher who constantly reminded us of the importance of (as Gay Byrne used to preach) speaking proper. Mind you, as youngsters sat there, it would be years later when I would appreciate that teacher's dedication. A very belated thank you, sir. Tom Gilsenan, Beaumont, Dublin 9 All-Ireland final shows how Jim Gavin's changes have revitalised the game It was a pleasure to watch the recent All-Ireland football final contested by players displaying all the skills of the game. Thanks to Jim Gavin and all concerned for getting rid of the 'puke football' introduced way back in 2003 by Tyrone, and progressed to a more dreary and boring game by Donegal in 2012. Long may the game continue to progress with its skills of high fielding and long-range points from play.
Irish Independent
an hour ago
- Irish Independent
The Irish Independent's View: Ireland must proceed with caution after Donald Trump's threat of increased pharma tariffs
'We'll be putting an initially small tariff on pharmaceuticals, but in one year – one-and-a-half years, maximum – it's going to go to 150pc and then it's going to go to 250pc because we want pharmaceuticals made in our country,' Mr Trump warned. In his second coming, the US president has honed his superpower for wreaking economic havoc. Were he to write another book, it ought to be titled The Art of the Chaos. 'They [pharmaceutical companies] make a fortune with pharmaceuticals, and they make it in China and Ireland and everything else,' he said. The EU-US deal had already come in for severe criticism from countries including France and Germany for giving in too much and accepting higher tariffs. However, EU Commission officials defended it on the grounds that the agreement prevented an all-out trade war and also got Washington to roll back on a threat of pulling its security guarantees from Europe. The pact, signed by commission president Ursula von der Leyen, includes investment pledges and more purchases of US weapons and energy products. 'We chose the less bad option and we feel this is the better choice,' an EU official told the Financial Times. 'We're very clearly operating in a second-best world. Of course, America has its own problems, not least of which is the almost $1tn (€859bn) it must pay to service a national debt of $37tn. The Fiscal Advisory Council accused the Government of 'painting too rosy a picture' There is good reason why Ireland is the envy of Europe and a thorn in the side of the US president. Revenue figures have shown €156bn of corporate tax has flowed into the Exchequer in just 10 years. And we have just set a new record this year: according to the latest exchequer returns, tax receipts to the end of July came to €58bn. Earlier this summer, the Fiscal Advisory Council accused the Government of 'painting too rosy a picture' of future tax revenue in the context of framing a budget. It has also claimed that the Government has 'lost its anchor', with spending on a potentially unsustainable trajectory'. Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe is mindful of the risks and recognises that undue dependence on such eye-watering sums is hazardous. 'As I have said many times, we cannot assume these over-performances will continue indefinitely, particularly in the context of a deeply uncertain international trading environment,' he said. A cynic will tell you that he who remains calm while those around him panic probably doesn't know what's going on. The Coalition may not be hyperventilating just yet, at the threat of another transatlantic tariff thunderbolt, but a trimming of the sails and a checking of ambitions in terms of the budget must still inform their thinking.
RTÉ News
4 hours ago
- RTÉ News
Trump hikes India levy over Russian oil as tariff deadline looms
US President Donald Mr Trump has ordered steeper tariffs on Indian goods over the Asian country's continued purchase of Russian oil, opening a new front in his trade wars hours before another wave of duties takes effect. The additional 25% tariff on Indian goods, coming into place in three weeks, stacks atop a separate 25% duty entering into force, taking the level to 50% for many products. Mr Trump's order also threatens penalties on other countries who "directly or indirectly" import Russian oil, a key revenue source for Russia's war in Ukraine. Exemptions remain however for goods targeted under sector-specific duties such as steel and aluminum, and categories that could be hit later, like pharmaceuticals and semiconductors. Smartphones are in this list of exempted products for now, shielding Apple from a major hit as the US tech titan shifts production from China to India. India's foreign ministry condemned Mr Trump's announcement, calling the move "unfair, unjustified and unreasonable." The ministry previously said India began importing oil from Russia as traditional supplies were diverted to Europe over the war - noting that Washington had "actively encouraged" such imports to strengthen "global energy market stability." However, Mr Trump recently raised pressure on India over the oil purchases, threatening new tariffs as part of a campaign to force Moscow into ending its devastating invasion of Ukraine. India's national security adviser was in Russia, media ii reported, coinciding with US envoy Steve Witkoff's visit. The 25% additional tariff is lower than the 100% Mr Trump floated last month when he told Russia to end the war in Ukraine within 50 days or face massive new economic sanctions. The Republican said at the time that these would be "secondary tariffs" targeting Russia's remaining trade partners, seeking to impede Moscow's ability to survive already sweeping Western sanctions. Tariff turmoil Mr Trump has separately taken aim at Brazil over the trial of his right-wing ally, former president Jair Bolsonaro - who is accused of planning a coup. US tariffs on various Brazilian goods surged from 10% to 50%, although broad exemptions including for orange juice and civil aircraft are expected to soften the blow. A new wave of tariffs impacting dozens of other economies, from the European Union to Taiwan, is set to kick in later today. These updated "reciprocal" tariffs, meant to address trade practices Washington deems unfair, go up to 41% for Syria US trading partners face varying increases from a current 10% level, starting at 15% for economies like the EU, Japan and South Korea. Countries not targeted by these "reciprocal" tariff hikes continue facing a 10% levy Mr Trump imposed in April. Mr Trump's plans have sparked a rush to avert steeper duties, with Switzerland's President Karin Keller-Sutter hurrying to the US ahead of the deadline. It was unclear if she would meet Mr Trump or any top economic officials. While Switzerland's key pharmaceutical sector has been spared from the incoming 39% duty for now, Mr Trump has warned that future pharma tariffs could eventually rise to 250%. Many of Mr Trump's sweeping tariffs also face legal challenges over his use of emergency economic powers, with the cases likely to ultimately reach the Supreme Court. Tokyo's tariffs envoy Ryosei Akazawa was also in Washington, pressing for clarity on when promised cuts to tariffs on Japan's auto imports from 25% to 15% would take effect. A US official said meanwhile that, unlike for the European Union, tariffs on other Japanese imports would not be capped at 15% but that these "reciprocal" levies would be added to existing ones. Japan averted threatened extra tariffs of 25% in a deal struck in July, but the two sides appear at odds over key details, including over Japanese investments of $550 billion into the United States. "It's our money to invest as we like."
