Main message to voters:
We have been betrayed by our Government. Our country is being sold-out. State policy seems to serve the few at the expense of the many. Why is our country being run to serve powerful vested interests? bankers, bondholders and speculators. Our most vulnerable have been made to suffer.
Election history:
I made it to round 10 at the local elections. This was my first time running in any election. I was very happy with the result.
Priorities:
- Government policy to impose water charges is wrong, it is not in accordance with the general will of the people. We already pay water charges.
- Does the will of the people not matter? The party 'whip' system is undemocratic. It means TDs have no chance of representing their constituents.
- Get rid of Irish Water, the property tax and the universal charge. Invest in mental health services and make housing a priority.
Candidate positions on the election issues:
Budget and taxes
What should the priority be in the next budget?
With a growing economy, government revenue is increasing. This can be put back into the economy in the form of tax cuts or increased spending on public services, or it can be used to reduce the national debt.
Prioritise increased spending on public services
Prioritise tax cuts
Prioritise reducing the national debt
None of the above
Comment:
"We pay tax after tax with very little to show for it. Let the government use our taxes as they are meant to be spent. Our roads and ditches are not be maintained because our motor tax has been taken and put into the setting up of Irish Water - this is completely wrong. "
1 of 22 questions
Should high earners pay more tax than they currently do?
There are two income tax rates: the standard rate of 20% applies to all income up to a certain amount (€33,800 for a single person); and the higher rate of 40%, applies to all income earned over that amount. The Universal Social Charge is also payable at different rates depending on income.
Yes, to reduce economic inequality high earners should pay more tax
No, high earners pay enough at present
No, to reward work high earners should pay less tax than they do now
None of the above
Comment:
"The very wealthy are being very well looked after in this country. Austerity has hit the people on middle to low wages, those in receipt of social welfare and our elderly who are surviving on a state pension. "
2 of 22 questions
Water
How should water be funded?
Currently, water charges are capped at €160 per year for households with one adult and €260 for households with more than one adult. Households with low water usage may get a rebate.
Water should be free at the point of use and funded through general taxation
The current policy (with capped charges per household) should be maintained
Households that use more water (above a set allowance) should pay more
None of the above
Comment:
"We have always been paying water charges through our motor tax and the vat on our utility bills. How many times are we expected to pay? In four years time, if we do not succeed in abolishing Irish Water, families will be receiving water bills of 800 euro per year. These are Irish Water's figures."
3 of 22 questions
Should water charges be boycotted?
Some political parties and groups have advocated a boycott of the water charges
Yes, water charges are wrong and should be boycotted
No, water charges are wrong, but we should obey the law and pay
No, water charges are necessary
None of the above
Comment:
"I am a water meter protester. I stopped a water meter being installed at my house in Ballincollig, and I have stood with other communities resisting the metering process. Our water should not be used as a commodity and sold to us for profit. Water is our natural resource, it belongs to us.
"
4 of 22 questions
Abortion
When should abortion be permitted?
Abortion is currently only permitted when the life of the mother is at risk (including risk of suicide). Legal abortions are rare; for example, there were 26 cases during 2014.
Only when the mother’s life is at risk from illness
Only when the mother’s life is at risk from illness or suicide (the current position)
When the mother’s life is at risk and in certain other cases such as rape and fatal foetal abnormality
Abortion should be freely available up to a certain number of weeks in a pregnancy
None of the above
Comment:
"This is such a personal issue for many people. It needs much more discussion.
"
5 of 22 questions
Should there be a referendum on the 8th Amendment of the Constitution?
The 8th Amendment introduced a constitutional ban on abortion by acknowledging the right to life of the unborn (with due regard to the equal right to life of the mother).
Yes, the 8th Amendment should be repealed
There should be a referendum, but I would vote to defend the 8th Amendment
No, there should not be a referendum on the 8th Amendment
None of the above
Comment:
"I believe that when the next referendum is due on the 8th Amendment, it should be decided democratically.
"
6 of 22 questions
Wages and employment
Should the minimum wage be increased?
The minimum wage has recently been raised to €9.15 per hour.
Yes, the minimum wage should be increased further
No, it is high enough; further increases could mean fewer jobs
No, the minimum wage is too high and should be decreased
None of the above
Comment:
"Yes, it should be beneficial for people to work. But I believe the state should help small businesses more. They provide employment yet they are crucified with rent, rates, taxes etc.
"
7 of 22 questions
Should all employees be guaranteed a certain number of hours work per week?
In some sectors, such as retail, the number of hours work offered to employees varies greatly from week to week.
Yes, employees who want it should be given a guaranteed number of hours
Employers should try to provide guaranteed hours to staff, but the state should not intervene
No, employers sometimes need flexibility in order to stay in business
None of the above
Comment:
"Many small business are struggling to survive. Its the large companies such as Dunnes Stores, who can afford it that are treating their staff very unfairly with zero contract hours."
8 of 22 questions
Housing
Should there be tighter controls on rent?
Currently, landlords can only increase rent every two years, and rent increases must be justifiable in terms of the market rate.
Yes, to improve rent certainty increases should be capped in line with inflation
No, current controls on rent are adequate
No, rent controls are to be opposed as they reduce the supply of housing
None of the above
Comment:
"too much pressure is being put on private landlords to solve the housing shortage. That is the state's responsibility.
"
9 of 22 questions
What is your view on the Local Property Tax?
The Local Property Tax is charged on all residential properties. The revenue raised is used to fund services by local authorities.
The Local Property Tax is fair and provides much needed revenue for local authorities
Property taxes are a good idea, but the current system needs to be reformed
Property taxes are unfair and should be abolished
None of the above
Comment:
"Our property tax is going out of the country to pay off the bondholders. It should be scrapped, and the government should stop the payments to the bondholders. There is still 25 billion euro to be paid to them.
"
10 of 22 questions
What is your view on Traveller accommodation?
The Department of the Environment provides funding to local authorities for Traveller accommodation (e.g. halting sites and group housing schemes), but many local authorities have been reluctant to build these sites due to local opposition.
More should be done to provide accommodation for Travellers, even if there is local opposition
More Traveller accommodation is needed, but it should not be built against the wishes of the local community
The state should not build accommodation specifically for Travellers
None of the above
Comment:
"Discussions need to take place between communities and the traveller communities and come to a solution. I believe there is a solution, but all sides need to be involved.
"
11 of 22 questions
Health and childcare
Should there be free health care for all, paid for through higher taxes?
Currently, only some people are entitled to free health care or free GP care. Many people who can afford it choose to take out private health insurance.
Yes, health care should be free for all, even if it means higher taxes
GP care should be free, but universal health care would cost too much
No, those who can afford to pay should not have free health care
None of the above
Comment:
"I am not sure at the moment. We pay enough taxes, most of us cannot afford to pay anymore. I believe GP fees are very expensive and if you do not have a medical card it could stop a person getting medical attention for themselves or their children.
"
12 of 22 questions
Should the state do more to cover the cost of childcare?
The cost of childcare in Ireland is high by international standards. From September 2016, children over the age of three will be entitled to free pre-school for three hours a day. Beyond that it is up to parents to pay.
Yes, even if it means less resources available for other measures
No, current subsidies for childcare are adequate
No, the cost of childcare should be borne by parents
None of the above
Comment:
"The state should subsidies childcare. The government wants us to work yet they expect us to pay exorbitant childcare costs. And the childcare workers are paid very low wages. And the people running the creches are expected to pay all the wages, on top of their rent and rates and taxes.
"
13 of 22 questions
Religion in schools
Should religion be taught in state-funded primary schools?
Typically, primary schools spend 30 minutes a day on religious education, which in most cases involves instruction in a particular faith.
Yes, schools should instruct pupils in line with their religions ethos
Pupils should learn about various religions, not one particular faith
No, religion should only be taught outside of school
None of the above
Comment:
"We are a Christian country. I believe our children should be thought Christian values. There are many educate together schools where no one religion is taught. There is a plan for a multi-denominational gaelscoil to open in Ballincollig.
"
14 of 22 questions
Should schools be allowed to give preference to children based on religion?
Approximately 96% of primary schools in Ireland are under religious patronage. In areas where schools are oversubscribed, some schools give preference to children based on their religion.
Yes, schools should be able to serve their own religious community first
Yes, but only if there are suitable alternatives (e.g. non-denominational schools) in the area
No, religion should have no place in school admissions policies for state-funded schools
None of the above
Comment:
"Religion shouldn't be a barrier.
"
15 of 22 questions
Immigration, the EU
Should we accept more refugees in Ireland than we currently do?
In response to the migrant crisis, the current government has agreed to accept more refugees. However, Ireland still takes a relatively small number of refugees compared to some EU countries (such as Germany and Sweden).
Yes, we should accept a greater number of refugees
No, we accept enough already
No, we should accept fewer refugees than we currently do
None of the above
Comment:
"As a Christian country we should be in a position to taken at least 20 families from the refugee centers in Syria. I believe the fact that this government and the previous one has created such a housing crisis, makes people reluctant to take in more refugees. "
16 of 22 questions
Has European integration gone too far?
Some argue that greater integration is necessary to tackle EU-wide issues such as the financial crisis and the migrant crisis, while others believe that the EU interferes too much in the affairs of member states.
Yes, more power should be returned to member states
The current level of integration is acceptable
No, European integration should be pushed further
None of the above
Comment:
"Is Ireland still a sovereign country? We are being dictated to by the big powers in the EU.
"
17 of 22 questions
Environment
Should more wind farms be built in Ireland?
Currently, Ireland has 199 wind farms, which produce around 18% of the country’s electricity. Ireland has signed up to a target of generating 40% of our electricity from renewable sources by 2020.
Yes, we need more wind farms
No, there are enough wind farms already
No, there are too many wind farms
None of the above
Comment:
"Wind farms only benefit the person who owns them and the person who is renting the land. Wind farms do no reduce peoples energy bills. The noise from the turbines upset livestock. Wind farms are an eyesore. Tourists come to Ireland to see our beautiful scenery not the crude-looking turbines.
"
18 of 22 questions
Should we sign up to the EU’s targets on reducing emissions?
The European Commission wants to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 40% by 2030. Some groups are opposed to this because they believe it would have a negative impact on certain sectors, such as agriculture.
Yes, we should do what it takes to reduce our emissions in line with EU targets
We should seek to reduce emissions, but these targets are too ambitious for Ireland
No, we do not need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
None of the above
Comment:
"We should do what we know is right, but we should not be dictated to by the EU.
"
19 of 22 questions
Political reform
Is the party whip system too rigid?
Political parties nominate someone as the ‘party whip’ whose job it is to ensure that TDs vote according to the party line, or else face the prospect of being removed from the party.
Yes, TDs should take instruction from their constituents or follow their conscience on all matters
TDs should be given a free vote on ethical issues, but on other matters the whip is needed
No, government parties need to be united in order to implement their policies
None of the above
Comment:
"TD's promise to represent their constituents when they are looking to be elected, but then their hands are tied because their party whip tells them what to do. That is why people should vote for Independents."
20 of 22 questions
Should citizens be able to initiate referendums?
Currently only the government can call a referendum. In some countries, citizens can initiate a referendum to introduce or overturn legislation or amend the constitution, once a certain number of signatures are collected.
Yes, allowing citizens to initiate referendums would empower the people
Yes, but only for referendums to overturn legislation (not to amend the constitution or introduce new legislation)
No, citizen-initiated referendums would be costly and potentially chaotic
None of the above
Comment:
"People need more power. We are sick and tired of being dictated to by successive governments.
"
21 of 22 questions
Crime
Are criminal sentences too lenient in Ireland?
There are currently around 3,700 people in prison in Ireland. The number of prisoners has increased in recent years, but the rate of incarceration remains relatively low by international standards.
Yes, criminals should be more severely punished
No, the current sentencing regime is about right
No, there should be a greater focus on rehabilitation rather than punishment
None of the above
Comment:
"Many people in prison are not bad people. They may have had difficult childhoods and fell in with the wrong crowd. Petty criminals need rehabilitation and education to help them get back on track.
"
22 of 22 questions