Copyright thesun
THE race for the Aras has heated up with candidates seemingly at war with each other over EU countries’ military spending. Fine Gael Presidential hopeful Heather Humphreys hit back at her rival Catherine Connolly’s claim that Germany’s increased spending could be compared to its rearmament in the 1930s. Independent candidate Connolly made her remarks on Thursday, on the opening day of campaigning for the Presidential election. Speaking in Killarney, Ms Humphreys said: “Europe has to defend itself. We’ve had peace for almost 50 years in Europe — Russia attacked Ukraine, war has come back to Europe.” She said the one person who can stop the Ukraine war is Vladimir Putin. She added: “He can stop this war. It’s so difficult to see what’s happening in Ukraine. You see the bombs, the drones. “We have to be aware that we are living in a different world and Europe has to protect itself.” She added that what the Russian President “has bestowed on the Ukrainian people is horrific”. Meanwhile, Fianna Fail’s candidate Jim Gavin also said he didn’t agree with Ms Connolly — with countries on the border with Russia, including Ukraine, needing to “look after their own welfare”. Speaking in Co Kerry, the former Dublin GAA manager said there is an understanding of why those countries might be “investing in their defence and protection”. He said from an Irish perspective, “the Defence Commission has looked at the Irish Defence Forces in terms of investment”. Mr Gavin added: “We can keep our seas safe and keep our peacekeeping roles up to speed. “From my perspective, the EU has been very clear in terms of the conflict of Russia. It needs to stop. “European countries need to be able to defend themselves.” Mr Gavin added the European Union has been set up to promote democracy and to promote peace. ‘ENDANGERING OUR PEACE WORLDWIDE’ Speaking in Co Donegal, Ms Connolly said: “Every sovereign state has a right to self-defence. “My concern is the use of the military-industrial complex, the massive profits that they are making. “It’s endangering our peace worldwide. We have a duty as a neutral country to speak out on that.” Ms Connolly said Germany is one example of a country that is “boosting its economy through the military-industrial complex”. However, she said it is “not just Germany”, adding: “England has done it. America has done it. The EU as a project more and more is going down the road of military industrialisation.” ‘TWISTED LANGUAGE’ Ms Connolly said it is “prohibited to spend money on war through the EU and on the military-industrial complex”. She added: “They have found a different way. They have twisted language so the money can be used. “We are talking about millions, and not a fraction of that is going into peace or diplomacy.” Ms Connolly, as an Independent, is backed by a coalition of left-wing parties, including Sinn Fein. Sinn Fein TDs Pearse Doherty and Padraig Mac Lochlainn canvassed with Ms Connolly during her visit to his constituency. Fine Gael’s candidate Heather Humphreys and Fianna Fail’s Jim Gavin were both out canvassing in Kerry. The pair attended the Listowel Races afternoon, where they both mingled with voters ahead of the Presidential election on October 24.
