DUBLIN, Ireland: Justice Minister Helen McEntee has called on Catherine Connolly to release the emails in which she questioned the vetting of a woman previously convicted of firearms offenses, whom she had signed into Leinster House.

McEntee, the deputy leader of Fine Gael, said Connolly often demands accountability and transparency as a public representative, and that "the public should be afforded the same opportunity on this issue."

It was recently revealed that Connolly had employed a woman who had been convicted by the Special Criminal Court more than a decade ago for possessing firearms and ammunition. The former Éirígí member served over four years in prison and was later recruited by Connolly to work on an Irish language committee.

Connolly said she had signed the woman in on day passes to Leinster House, but the woman left the job before the vetting process for a regular access pass—which lasted about six months—was completed.

In a statement issued on October 14, McEntee said, "Someone who wants to become our President but has admitted to signing a serious criminal into our national parliament for half a year must release all details to ensure full public transparency. What's in the emails? On what exact dates was this person signed in for six months without Garda clearance?"

McEntee also urged Connolly's campaign to disclose details of a €3,700 taxpayer-funded trip to Syria in 2018, during which she and others met supporters of Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad.

According to The Irish Times, Connolly used Parliamentary Activities Allowance funds for the trip, which included a meeting with Fares al-Shehabi, an Assad ally under EU sanctions.

"The electorate deserves a full breakdown of how public money was spent on a visit to a country ruled by a dictator," McEntee said.