Independent presidential candidate Catherine Connolly has defended her attempt to hire a woman with a criminal conviction saying she was "absolutely perfect" for the job.
The Journal.ie reported that Ms Connolly had sought to hire a former Éirígí member who had been sentenced to six years in jail by the Special Criminal Court for gun crime.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin has described the decision as indicating a "very serious lack of judgement".
Ms Connolly has said she had not been told by gardaí that the woman would not pass security clearance to work in Leinster House.
And she said it was "unfortunate" that this woman's name is now out there and that she left of her own volition in the end.
Speaking on RTÉ's Today with Claire Byrne, she said the woman had done her time and had been a model prisoner.
Ms Connolly said the employee had also been recommended by Éamon Ó Cuív and Clare Daly, among others.
And she said it was a very good example of rehabilitation and the prison service working.
"When this woman was recommended, she had a gold standard in Irish, had done her time in prison and had been a model prisoner. I checked out was there anything to be worried about, what were her credentials," she said.
"I abhor violence and this person served her time in prison and she came out earlier than her term."
Ms Connolly said the woman was a "model prisoner", had started her PhD and was looking to get back into the workforce.
When asked if she had been told by gardaí that the woman would not pass clearance to work in Leinster House, Ms Connolly said she had had no contact with gardaí in relation to this matter.
"Absolutely none," she said, adding that no one in a position of authority in relation to security had said to her that it was not appropriate to have this person in Leinster House.
Ms Connolly said the vetting process went on "for a very long time" and the woman left to return to her PhD.
"Which is a very good example of rehabilitation and the prison service working in this case and giving somebody a second chance," she said.
"And now that person is being hauled into publicity because of my candidacy as president. It really is a shocking indictment ... I'm actually proud that this person has gone on to greater things. I absolutely regret that she's been dragged into this in such a public way. It really, really lays bare our hypocrisy."
Ms Connolly said she took "careful time" to reflect on the situation and she believes in rehabilitation and giving people second chances.
When asked if she supports Éirígí, she said she does not support any group that perpetuates violence.
"But we can't have it every way. We can't send someone to prison and they're a model prisoner and realise that what they've done is wrong, they change their life and they move in a new direction, what message would we be sending out if we don't believe that?"
Ms Connolly said she had voted against the Special Criminal Court in her lifetime as a politician, but she respects the courts that are there.
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Fianna Fáil candidate for the presidency Jim Gavin was canvassing in Portlaoise today, while Fine Gael's Heather Humphreys was in Trim, Co Meath.
Ms Humphreys said it is a "very serious issue" that Ms Connolly sought to hire a former Éirígí member as an administrative support.
Speaking in Trim, Ms Humphreys said Ms Connolly had questions to answer about how such a person could be given access to the Oireachtas without first receiving garda clearance.
Ms Humphreys said: "This is a very serious issue. This person was a member of Éirígí. Of course, that is the organisation that tried to dismantle the Good Friday Agreement.
"She obviously was working in the Houses of the Oireachtas for six months. My concern here, and I think Catherine does need to explain this, is how come she [this woman] had access to the Oireachtas without garda clearance.
"Everybody knows when you apply for a job, you must be vetted by An Garda Síochána, and you can't take up that job until the vetting has been completed. And you know, Catherine really does have questions to answer here.
Asked if this was not a matter for the gardaí rather than Ms Connolly, Ms Humphreys said: "No, it's an issue for the employer, and Catherine was the employer in this case.
"And you can't employ people, whether they are paid as an employee or even as volunteers until the garda vetting process is complete. So Catherine really does need to explain how she [this woman] had access to the Oireachtas for six months."
'Useful' for Connolly to provide more information - Harris
The Tánaiste has called into question the judgement of Ms Connolly over her attempts to hire someone with a gun conviction to work in Leinster House.
Speaking to reporters, Simon Harris said while he had read comments that the person had been rehabilitated, he said that does not take away from the serious security questions.
He noted that the person had pleaded not guilty, and said it would be useful if Deputy Connolly provided more information on the matter.
He said many political parties are supporting her candidacy and said he thought they do want to see clarity.
The Tánaiste also said the people who know best in relation to security in relation to who can and cannot access Leinster House are the gardaí.
"Full stop, end of," he said.
Separately, Green party leader Roderic O'Gorman indicated that he would have had misgivings about employing an individual convicted of such a serious crime, particularly given the location of Leinster House.
Asked about the decision of Ms Connolly to try to employ a woman convicted of gun crime by the Special Criminal Court, he said that he also appreciated that Ms Connolly had given very significant consideration to the issue and knew the challenges faced by people who had been incarcerated.
He said: "I personally might have put more emphasis on the serious nature of the crime in terms particularly of where this person would have been working."
The Dublin West TD sad it was a serious crime with a serious sentence which was imposed and served.
Mr O'Gorman said he had listened to her radio interview this morning and he said she outlined her reasoning for the offer of employment.
He added that he felt that naming the woman involved was unfair as that person had not put herself forward for elected office.
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Matter 'has been addressed' says Bacik
Asked for her views at her party's alternative Budget launch in Dublin city, Labour leader Ivana Bacik said she "listened to Catherine Connolly this morning, very carefully I have to say" and is of the view she answered questions on the matter "very clearly and honestly".
Deputy Bacik said she believes in rehabilitation for "somebody who has served their time" and "I think the matter has been addressed".
The Labour leader also said she is "proud to be supporting" Catherine Connolly's presidential campaign, and said "I have no issue" with her decision in 2018.
She rejected a suggestion the decision could be damaging to Ms Connolly's presidential campaign, and said when asked that she has "no regret" over the party's decision to support her.
Additional reporting: Fiachra Ó Cionnaith, Conor Hunt
