Independent presidential candidate Catherine Connolly in July said she funded her trip to Syria. Photograph: Dan DennisonPresidential candidate Catherine Connolly used a taxpayer-funded allowance for €3,691 in spending described as related to “Syria” in her statement to the Standards in Public Office Commission (Sipo) for the year 2018. Ms Connolly has previously said it was a “fact-finding” trip. When she was asked in July who funded the visit to Syria, Ms Connolly replied: “I funded that trip.”The PAA is a taxpayer-funded allowance available to political party leaders and Independent TDs in relation to expenses arising from parliamentary activities, including research. The sum on offer to all Independent TDs in 2018 was just over €37,000.

Source: The Irish Times October 09, 2025 20:01 UTC