What do Connolly’s Dáil supporters think of bank repossessions – Carroll MacNeill

Why are Catherine Connolly’s supporters silent on bank repossessions and her non-disclosure of her former work, a Fine Gael Minister has said.

Minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill said today:

“The issue here is not the work of a barrister – it is right and proper that everyone should be afforded representation. The issue here is Deputy Connolly’s lack of transparency when speaking so forcefully as a TD or as a councillor on matters such as repossessions, banks and evictions. 

“Why did she not disclose it?”

“Time and again Deputy Connolly stood in the Dáil and spoke on these issues never once declaring her role – she was not silent on the issues, why was she silent on her role?

“Why hasn’t she clarified why she didn’t declare this interest to the Dáil? 

“How can those members of the opposition who support Deputy Connolly remain silent on their candidate’s complete secrecy about acknowledging her former work? 

“Are they comfortable with Deputy Connolly’s work on home repossession and her failure to declare it in the Dail?

“Did she disclose it to them beforehand? Are their parliamentary parties and members comfortable with this? 

“Statements this morning from the opposition parties don’t reference banks or repossessions, why? What is wrong with declaring an interest? 

“What do opposition parties have to say about home repossessions and the banks’ role?

“Why the silence? 

“Solicitors and barristers across the political spectrum have disclosed, without identifying anyone, their previous professional interest or work in an area of law.

“It is full transparency and often only takes a few qualifying sentences. Had Deputy Connolly done the same, we would not be having this debate about a Presidential candidate.

“The Bar Council correctly point out that Deputy Connolly cannot discuss the detail of her case work. But Deputy Connolly could have taken the opportunity, as many of her colleagues have done, to preface her Oireachtas remarks – when discussing banks, repossessions, evictions – that she was and is particularly well informed in this area as she has chosen to and represented both financial institutions and indeed, homeowners. It was her field of work.

“In the Dáil, a democratically elected forum where higher standards are applied, Deputy Connolly choose not to declare this once.

“Or perhaps she can point us to the occasion where she did?

“What did she say while working as a councillor in Galway City Council from 1999 to 2016 while simultaneously working as a barrister in the courts?

“The cab rank rule allows for barristers to decline work if there is a conflict of interest.

“So how did Catherine Connolly’s public statements align with her professional work, which she clearly chose to accept as is her complete right?

“It is the public’s right to know why she did not disclose this. It is also expected of anyone who wants to be our President.

“In such a role, openness and accountability are not optional – they are essential to maintaining public confidence.”