Presidential hopeful Catherine Connolly has said she wished she had "awakened sooner" in relation to the militarisation of Europe, after stating that she voted No in both Lisbon referendums.
Ms Connolly, speaking to RTÉ's News At One, said she also voted No in both Nice referendums.
"Voting No in relation to a treaty is not a negative thing - it's indicating concerns that I and lots of people had," Ms Connolly said.
Ms Connolly was also asked about comments from Labour TD Alan Kelly, who said he still has major concerns about her.
Speaking to Tipp FM, he said there was a lack of choice in the election and said he would vote for Fine Gael candidate Heather Humphreys "by default", despite the Labour Party backing Ms Connolly.
When asked about Mr Kelly's comments, she said the Labour Party have "played a blinder" for me and that she received the full backing of party leader Ivana Bacik.
She said that members of the party have been out canvassing for her, as have the Social Democrats, People Before Profit and the Green Party.
She said Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said he will be voting for Ms Humphreys and that his party have made it clear there is no difference between them and Fine Gael.
She said they have made the decision "easier" in that sense.
However, she said she understands that a substantial membership of Fianna Fáil are not happy with that.
She said a Fine Gael smear campaign has been "engendering fear".
"What's been happening the last few weeks is a policy of diminishing me, the people on the ground and diminishing the role of the president," she said.
Despite this, she said she looks forward if elected to being kept informed by the Taoiseach of the day.
She said it was not a mistake to go to Syria in 2018, adding that it was a "fact finding mission".
She said she went with a group of community activists and came back renewed in her "horror of war".
Ms Connolly said she condemned the Syrian regime.
She said she supports the peace plan for Gaza but said she had concerns on whether it would be a lasting peace in relation to both sides.
Ms Connolly also said she believes people in the north should have a vote but that it is up to Government policy.
When asked if she would welcome a state visit from King Charles if she is elected president, she said it would be a policy decision as to whether he should visit, but as president she would do her role as professionally as possible.
Fine Gael candidate Heather Humphreys is due to be interviewed on RTÉ's News At One later in the week.
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