Catherine Connolly has said she has been the underdog all her life as the frontrunner outlined her vision to expand the role of the Irish presidency.

The independent candidate, 69, who is backed by several left-wing opposition parties, is ahead in the presidential campaign according to opinion polls.

It comes as a Business Post/Red C poll, carried out from October 1-7, indicates that Ms Connolly is on 36%, Heather Humphreys is on 25%, and Jim Gavin was on 12%. Mr Gavin withdrew on October 5.

The Galway TD said: "All my life, I suppose I [have been] the underdog, but I don't really take polls on too seriously.

"I feel I stood for the reasons I've outlined, and over 12,000 volunteers have come on board, the parties have come on board. I have emphasised at every point that I'm an independent candidate who wants to draw support from all parties and none.

"I think there's a golden opportunity here for Fianna Fail to give [me] a No1... because of the similarities of the themes that I'm articulating and what Fianna Fail stood for, or stands for, actually, in terms of a united Ireland, in terms of the triple lock that Micheal Martin, going back, said was a core part of our neutrality."

Ms Connolly said previously she would like to continue to expand the role of president if elected.

President Michael D Higgins has been accused of "politicising" the largely symbolic role, for example when speaking out about Ireland's housing crisis.

Asked how far she would expand the role, Ms Connolly referred to the vow the president takes to "dedicate my abilities to the service and welfare of the people of Ireland".

"And therein is scope - what is in the interest of the welfare of the people of Ireland, is it in their interest that we have over 16,000 people homeless?" she said

Asked about how she would handle US President Donald Trump if he were to visit Ireland, she said as deputy speaker she hosted Joe Biden's visit to the Irish parliament even though his record on Israel-Palestine "left a lot to be desired".