Main message to voters:
Kerry and Ireland need to make real change. It's no longer good enough that we pass the buck between the domestic Troika of Fine Gael, Labour and Fianna Fail. I will do everything i can to secure a recovery for all and a society for all.
Priorities:
- The abolition of water charges and the winding down of Irish Water. A referendum on the ownership of the public water supply.
- Increased funding for our health system, increasing mental health spending, in garda numbers and stations, and in the social safety net.
- Stopping the TTIP trade agreement. It is a corporate power grab disguised as a free trade agreement. It will affect every aspect of our way of life.
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:
"Our public services are cracking under the pressure. We must invest in education, Health, Gardaí and the social safety net. When a government spends the public will see benefits in their pockets in the long term. we must also begin to re-balance the tax burden, for fairness."
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 richest 25% now have more that 75% of the wealth. The lowest incomes share only 0.2% of the wealth.
It is massive inequality and must be solved through policies that create a flourishing middle class - that way everyone will benefit from the lowest incomes to the highest."
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:
"Establishment parties will privatize out water supply, the charges will skyrocket and water poverty will be a new hell for many. There is no need for charges - none. Progressive taxation will fix the supply and a referendum to enshrine ownership in the constitution will stop the privatization agenda"
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:
"It is currently against the law to call for a boycott of water charges. I personally believe that the charges are wrong and should be boycotted."
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
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
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:
"In the medium term, we need to bring in the medium wage in line with the Living Wage- the cost of living in this country. Putting money in people's pockets will turn the economy around, helping to ease the transition to the living wage."
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:
"Broad unemployment stands at around 19%. We must strengthen workers rights to avail of better hours and conditions and end practices like zero hour contracts."
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:
"Among a number of other issue like security of tender and increase in the number of social houses. The current waiting list for social housing is 135,000. You can find out more here:http: //www.right2change.ie/policy-principles-progressive-irish-government"
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:
"I believe the property is regressive. We must increase it's range to target wealth and in time abolish the tax on homes."
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:
"There is a housing crisis in this country. Everyone has a right to a home. We need to build culturally appropriate housing for the travelling community along with an increase in social housing. "
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 believe in cradle to grave free health care along the lines of the NHS model. If elected I will work towards a free healthcare model. Our services need investment and serious reform."
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:
"Affordable, quality Childcare to help parents return to work must be a priority of the next government. If elected I will do my best to establish such. Forcing people into work through cuts to social welfare payments is abhorrent. We need to support our children and their working parents."
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:
"I believe in the separation of church and state in education, health and other services. Pupils should learn of all religions and schools should be accommodating of all faiths, giving access to private,quiet areas for prayer or meditation if the pupil desires, but not as a course."
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:
"I believe in the separation of church and state in education, health and other services. We are a modern nation and such have welcomed other faiths in to our society, schools should not discriminate against children of other faiths. We cannot leave 1 child behind in education."
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:
"WE should accept the 4000 target of refugees. Help them acclimatize, train them to get them into work, help home them and welcome them into society. Many refugees will wish to return to their homelands in the coming years. We must look at more solutions to the problem of people risking journeys."
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:
"The Euro was a mistake. We gave up too much economic sovereignty for the cause. The E.U has turned on it's citizens and is a bloated mas of bureaucracy and un-elected officials. I believe it's current iteration must be reformed. More must be done to create a more democratic E.U."
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:
"We need to take windfarms out of people's back yards and move them to off shore locations. With the right technology and locations we could drive down the cost of energy in this state for people and for businesses. but we cannot have windfarms so close to communities."
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:
"After 8 years of austerity, I believe we will not make the targets on emissions. We must do more. http://www.right2change.ie/right2sustainable-environment"
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
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:
"For too long the citizen's of this country have seen their democratic will go unnoticed. It is vital that we strengthen democratic involvment.
http://www.right2change.ie/right2democratic-reform"
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:
"In some cases, including sexual assault cases, we have seen worryingly lack sentences. We must look to strengthen sentences, including for white collar crime. But the above question is too broad, we need to look at reform right across sentencing law."
22 of 22 questions