Independent presidential candidate Catherine Connolly has denied there are questions about her judgement over her attempt to hire a woman with a criminal conviction.
The woman was sentenced to six years in jail by the Special Criminal Court for gun crime. It has also been reported that she is a former member of the political party, Éirígí.
Ms Connolly said the woman had been recommended to her when she was trying to get back into the workforce after serving her prison sentence.
Asked if she was satisfied that the woman was no longer a member of Éirígí when the issue of her employment arose, Ms Connolly said she didn't know her when she was released from prison and her knowledge of her came through recommendations.
"I knew her background. I knew that the Special Criminal Court had found her guilty and, of course, I had perhaps questions and then I went and sought advice from people who were hugely experienced in visiting prisoners and prisons and she came with high recommendations," Catherine Connolly said.
"I don't think there are questions in relation to my judgement. Éirígí is a registered political party. My understanding is that she was no longer active in that party and my understanding - which has been borne out - is that she had turned a corner.
"This is a person who had served her sentence, turned the corner, went on to further her education within the prison and continued it afterwards."
Ms Connolly said she was upset that the woman was "exposed" in the media when she had done nothing wrong.
"There is a story here. How can society tolerate that and how is that allowed to happen, just to damage me," she asked.
She also questioned who had released the information and for what purpose.
"The consequences of what has happened are quite serious for our democracy," she said.
