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Michael Leahy

Michael Leahy

Irish Freedom Party

These answers were provided by the candidate

EU integration
1 of 21 questions
European integration has gone too far
  • Agree
  • Neither agree nor disagree
  • Disagree
  • No opinion
Comment: "EU has become too centralised and has usurped the rights of nation states. Coupled with its absence of democratic accountability this is recipe for trouble in the future."

- Michael Leahy
EU enlargement
2 of 21 questions
It would be good if Ukraine joins the EU in the next five years
  • Agree
  • Neither agree nor disagree
  • Disagree
  • No opinion
Comment: "Ukraine is a corrupt state. It must remain as a neutral buffer between Russia and the states of western Europe. Unfortunately, EU membership is now becoming synonymous with NATO"

- Michael Leahy
Economic policy
3 of 21 questions
Corporation tax rates should be fully harmonised across the EU
  • Agree
  • Neither agree nor disagree
  • Disagree
  • No opinion
Comment: "Taxation must remain a national competence."

- Michael Leahy
Economic policy
4 of 21 questions
The EU budget should be increased, even if this means wealthy countries paying more
  • Agree
  • Neither agree nor disagree
  • Disagree
  • No opinion
Comment: "The EU should have no budget other than the internal administration of its own institutions."

- Michael Leahy
Commission President
5 of 21 questions
Ursula von der Leyen should receive a second term as Commission President
  • Agree
  • Neither agree nor disagree
  • Disagree
  • No opinion
Comment: "She has shown no competence and had=s dragged EU not an effective war with Russia while undermining the living standards of European people through a disastrous sanctions regime."

- Michael Leahy
Defence
6 of 21 questions
EU member states, including Ireland, should collaborate more on defence and security
  • Agree
  • Neither agree nor disagree
  • Disagree
  • No opinion
Comment: "Ireland must remain neutral to serve its own vital national interests."

- Michael Leahy
Defence
7 of 21 questions
The EU should have a common army
  • Agree
  • Neither agree nor disagree
  • Disagree
  • No opinion
Defence
8 of 21 questions
The EU should finance more weapons for Ukraine
  • Agree
  • Neither agree nor disagree
  • Disagree
  • No opinion
Comment: "NATO may wish to prolong this war but the EU should have no role in it."

- Michael Leahy
Defence
9 of 21 questions
Ireland should retain its ‘triple lock’ rule for deploying troops
  • Agree
  • Neither agree nor disagree
  • Disagree
  • No opinion
Comment: "The triple lock is in reality a double lock as the government and the Dáil will not disagree. Ireland should not be bound by UN mandates. It is an independent country."

- Michael Leahy
Foreign policy
10 of 21 questions
The EU should suspend its trade agreement with Israel
  • Agree
  • Neither agree nor disagree
  • Disagree
  • No opinion
Comment: "The role of a neutral country must be to present itself as an honest broker between waring parties. That is not served by taking sides."

- Michael Leahy
Foreign policy
11 of 21 questions
Each member state should have a veto on EU foreign policy
  • Agree
  • Neither agree nor disagree
  • Disagree
  • No opinion
Comment: "The EU should not have a foreign policy."

- Michael Leahy
Immigration
12 of 21 questions
Ireland should participate in the EU’s new migration pact
  • Agree
  • Neither agree nor disagree
  • Disagree
  • No opinion
Comment: "Ireland has an opt-out under Lisbon treaty from all migration policy and we should not lose this."

- Michael Leahy
Immigration
13 of 21 questions
Member states should share responsibility for asylum applications in the EU
  • Agree
  • Neither agree nor disagree
  • Disagree
  • No opinion
Immigration
14 of 21 questions
The EU should operate search and rescue operations in the Mediterranean
  • Agree
  • Neither agree nor disagree
  • Disagree
  • No opinion
Comment: "These missions are facilitating people smugglers."

- Michael Leahy
Immigration
15 of 21 questions
Ireland needs to do more to ensure asylum applicants have suitable accommodation
  • Agree
  • Neither agree nor disagree
  • Disagree
  • No opinion
Comment: "We need holding centres rater than accommodation."

- Michael Leahy
Immigration
16 of 21 questions
There should be checkpoints at the border with Northern Ireland to limit the number of asylum seekers coming to Ireland
  • Agree
  • Neither agree nor disagree
  • Disagree
  • No opinion
Comment: "Unfortunately this may be necessary due to the ineptitude of the EU and Irish government in failing to look after Ireland’s interests during Brexit."

- Michael Leahy
Environment
17 of 21 questions
The EU’s Nature Restoration Law, requiring rewetting of peatlands, should be adopted
  • Agree
  • Neither agree nor disagree
  • Disagree
  • No opinion
Comment: "This is an unnecessary attack on agriculture and the productive use of land."

- Michael Leahy
Environment
18 of 21 questions
The EU’s goal of a 55% cut in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 is too ambitious
  • Agree
  • Neither agree nor disagree
  • Disagree
  • No opinion
Comment: "Such a policy will lead to de-industrialisation and impoverishment."

- Michael Leahy
Environment
19 of 21 questions
More windfarms (including onshore windfarms) should be built in Ireland
  • Agree
  • Neither agree nor disagree
  • Disagree
  • No opinion
Comment: "Depends on location."

- Michael Leahy
Agriculture
20 of 21 questions
Ireland should continue to seek special treatment for Irish farmers on the Nitrates (water quality) directive
  • Agree
  • Neither agree nor disagree
  • Disagree
  • No opinion
Comment: "Our grass based production is different form other states and our water quality is better."

- Michael Leahy
Agriculture
21 of 21 questions
The EU should reduce subsidies for high-emissions farming, such as beef and dairy
  • Agree
  • Neither agree nor disagree
  • Disagree
  • No opinion
Comment: "Emissions are nothing to be afraid of."

- Michael Leahy