'I am offering a presidency that listens'

Op-Ed by Catherine Connolly

For readers in Westmeath – where music, sport and community ties run deep – I am offering a presidency that listens. The role, as set out in the constitution, carries a real convening power – not to govern, but to gather; not to command, but to steady – so we can hear one another and keep our shared values at the heart of public life.

Young people tell me, with clarity and grace, that Ireland must do better for them. Too many face crippling rents, unaffordable homes and insecure work – a future that feels out of reach in the communities they love. I meet students, carers, artists, athletes and young workers who still give back, who volunteer, organise and speak for fairness at home and for justice abroad. They are not asking for privilege – they are asking for a home they can afford, decent work, and a planet that can sustain their dreams. As president, I would keep their voice and their future in view.

We owe the same respect to those who built this country. I meet older people counting coins for the meter, turning down the heat, and cutting back on the small social rituals that make life worth living. It is not enough to speak about dignity – people must feel it in their daily lives. As president, I would use the platform of the Áras to keep older citizens at the heart of our national conversation and to celebrate the voluntary organisations who stand with them every day.

Mental health must never be pushed to the margins. Families wait too long for support, and too many people feel invisible in their pain. I will champion parity of esteem between mental and physical health, and use the Áras to convene lived experience, services and community supports, so that help is available locally, early and without stigma.

The presidency can also strengthen a culture of inclusion for disabled people and carers. I have stood with disabled advocates against policy that would deepen poverty, and I will continue to amplify the principle that disability is a human-rights issue, not a matter of charity. A fair republic removes barriers, values care, and ensures people can participate fully in civic life.

Work has dignity. From carers to retail staff, public servants to builders and young people in precarious jobs, workers keep this country going. A presidency rooted in fairness should give voice to decent pay, fair conditions and the right to organise – and keep people at the centre of how we navigate change, including the transition to a sustainable economy.

Climate and nature are not side issues – they are the defining social and moral challenges of our time. The burdens fall heaviest on those with the least, from flooding to energy costs to the loss of green space. As president, I would use the office to highlight urgency, support communities, scientists and activists, and celebrate the deep connection between the Irish people and the natural world.

Unity matters. The Good Friday Agreement gave us a peaceful, democratic framework for change by consent. A united Ireland, if it comes, must also be a shared Ireland – one that cherishes every person, whether they identify as nationalist, unionist or neither.

The presidency cannot make policy, but it can open doors, convene partners and champion everyday Irish in homes, workplaces and public life. Last week in Kerry, I launched a presidential initiative on the Irish language, during a year of listening and renewal that marks the centenary of the first Gaeltacht Commission. The aim is straightforward: bring Gaeltacht and Galltacht communities, schools, artists and the global Irish into a shared, practical programme that celebrates an Ghaeilge mar theanga bheo.

Is simplí mo ghealltanas – my promise is simple. I will keep faith with the people – young and old, rural and urban, settled and new Irish – by listening, by convening, and by returning our politics to first principles: dignity, decency and the common good. The presidency cannot fix everything, but it can steady our public life and help us see one another again. If elected, I will travel the length and breadth of the island to listen, to learn, and to carry our best values forward – with humility in authority, and practicality in hope.