I have just been considering the presidential race for the Áras.

It seems to me that Catherine Connolly is someone who is in touch with the soul of Ireland.

Catherine is a barrister with a social and an ethics of care background.

Catherine has never been afraid to always give a principled response to an issue or controversy. Principle first — pragmatism down the agenda.

This innate sense of fairness and character conviction on issues like housing, the war in Gaza and Ukraine, are on the record of her speeches in the chamber.

Her response to the housing crisis, immigration and lack of services in a time of plenty, her commitment to the Irish language — all these achievements make her the ideal candidate to be a persistent presence for fairness that cannot be ignored by an executive that is complacent in the surety of its control of power.

I believe she will be the next Uachtarán na hÉireann.

Martin Durack BL