The final televised debate, hosted on RTÉ’s Prime Time, saw the two candidates face off ahead of polling day on Friday.
On the riots in Citywest, Ms Humphreys said the violence was “absolutely horrific”. She said:
This is not what we are as a country, this is not what we are as a people. This is wrong.
She added Ireland needed immigrants to come in to work in hospitals and care services, but people who come here illegally should be processed and sent home in they do not have the right to be here.
Meanwhile, Ms Connolly said the scenes in Citywest were “very upsetting” and “deeply disturbing”.
She added there needed to be an analysis of what happened.
Ms Connolly was pressed on her work as a barrister for banks in home repossession cases, saying she did act for credit institutions.
She rejected assertions she was dodging questions on the matter, citing Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan’s comments.
Ms Connolly added it was important there was an “independent bar”, as Ms Humphreys pressed the Independent candidate further.
Ms Humphreys asked why Ms Connolly had spoken against repossessions in the Dáil, while having previously acted for banks in repossession cases.
In response, Ms Connolly said those allegations were “extraordinary”, adding that decisions on repossessions were made by the courts and not by barristers.
She hit out at Ms Humphreys for the previous Government’s decision to not renew the eviction ban.
Questioned about meeting with US president Donald Trump, Ms Connolly said she would meet with anyone the Government invites to Ireland.
When asked if she would raise the genocide in Gaza with Mr Trump, Ms Connolly said she did not believe that subject would be on the agenda in any potential meeting.
She said she did not believe political issues would arise in any such meeting.
Asked repeatedly if she believed the US had enabled genocide in Gaza, Ms Humphreys did not answer and said she was glad there was a ceasefire in place in the Palestinian territory.
On fox hunting, Ms Humphreys said she supported it as a “rural pursuit”, but she has never engaged in a fox hunt.
“That’s part of our culture, it’s part of our heritage. It’s been there for many, many years and I do support it,” Ms Humphreys said.
In response, Ms Connolly said she had difficulty with fox hunting, but she did understand the reasons for it.
However, she said the control of foxes needed to be looked at in a “different lens” and she disagreed with fox hunting as a pursuit.
On Ms Connolly’s hiring of a woman with a gun conviction in the special criminal court, the Independent candidate was asked if it mattered what she planned to do with the guns. Ms Connolly said “of course” it mattered, but the woman had come out of prison rehabilitated.
Ms Humphreys criticised Ms Connolly over the hiring process, particularly hitting out at the woman not having received Garda clearance. Ms Humphreys said:
It was a serious risk in my view to our national parliament.
In response, Ms Connolly said the signing in was a normal procedure, adding that nobody had raised any concerns about the woman’s presence in the Dáil to authorities such as the Ceann Comhairle.
Ms Humphreys was asked about the case of Shane O’Farrell, who was killed in a hit-and-run by a driver who was out on bail.
She said she had “huge sympathy” for Lucia O’Farrell, Shane’s mother, adding she was glad the family received a State apology.
The Fine Gael candidate added she wrote to ministers on behalf of the O’Farrell family, saying she was sorry she was unable to deliver for them as their local TD but that she did her best.
Asked why she didn’t meet with Ms O’Farrell, Ms Humphreys said she spoke with her on the phone on several occasions.
On Syria, Ms Connolly said she travelled to the country as a fact-finding mission.
Pressed about meeting with an individual who had been starving Palestinian refugees, Ms Connolly said she “couldn’t possibly endorse” any action like that.
She added the group had travelled to the camp to meet with refugees and saw “utter destruction”.
Ms Connolly said there had been “no naivety” on her part surrounding the Assad regime.
Both candidates were asked about who they would appoint to serve on their Council of State, with Ms Humphreys saying she wanted to see more women on the council.
The Council of State is used to advise the president on legislation.
Meanwhile, Ms Connolly said she would like to appoint a “diverse range of people” to the Council of State, citing younger people, older people and people with disabilities as potential nominees.
