No going back for Connolly

By Stephen Corrigan

Newly elected Independent TD for Galway West Catherine Connolly has emphatically ruled out ever returning to the Labour Party following her election on Sunday evening.

Just minutes after her election, the outgoing city councillor said she had no regrets over leaving the party in 2006.

“Labour lost their soul a long time ago, and they’ve left a vacuum in opposition, I do regret that,” she said.

Deputy Connolly, who was elected on the 14th and final count with 10,239 votes, said that it was not a day for recriminations of the Labour Party but a day to celebrate the election of more candidates on the left.  She rejected any suggestion that she would support a government led by either Fine Gael or Fianna Fáil, unless Fianna Fáil had a “change on the road to Damascus.”

But for a left wing government being formed, Deputy Connolly believed it was time for Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael to put aside historical differences and enter into coalition.

“I think there’s no difference between them, they have shown that repeatedly. I think they should stop the nonsense and go into government, unless we can form a government on the left,” she said.

Deputy Connolly put the success of independent candidates in Friday’s election down to the refusal of the government to listen to the people of Ireland.

“The government were giving a message that we’re going out to take away Universal Social Charge and reduce taxes, and the people at the doors were saying ‘Good God, do something about people on trolleys, do something about the health service, do something about housing’- There was a complete disconnect,” she exclaimed.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.