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Priority: Transport
To get Wicklow moving where bus, rail and the luas is concerned. We need delivery and movement on funding this side of 2030
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Priority: Housing
To have more ambitious targets & better delivery of social & affordable homes and to bring stock back to the market by raising the vacant property tax
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Priority: Crime and policing
I am determined to increase active garda force numbers & better resource our community units in the Gardai.We should have a stand alone transport core
These answers were provided by the candidate
Taxes and spending
1 of 32 questions
Money that is currently being saved for future policy challenges (such as climate change and an ageing population) should be spent now on things like housing and healthcare.
- Agree
- Neither agree nor disagree
- Disagree
- No opinion
Comment:
"More balance in figures on whats stored away and whats spent now to avoid bigger and dearer spends in the future because of bad planning in services and bad management of resources "
- Shay Cullen
Taxes and spending
2 of 32 questions
Taxes on people earning over €100,000 a year should be increased.
- Agree
- Neither agree nor disagree
- Disagree
- No opinion
Comment:
"We should have a third tier of rate of taxation like any other european countries to ease the burden on middle class double earners being hammered with travel, fuel and childcare bills and tax those with greater assets and incomes a little more."
- Shay Cullen
Taxes and spending
3 of 32 questions
The Universal Social Charge (USC) is a necessary source of revenue and should be kept.
- Agree
- Neither agree nor disagree
- Disagree
- No opinion
Comment:
"It should be removed for low earners completely and all first time employees for three years"
- Shay Cullen
Taxes and spending
4 of 32 questions
Tax on inheritance should be reduced, even if it means cutting back on public spending or increasing other taxes.
- Agree
- Neither agree nor disagree
- Disagree
- No opinion
Taxes and spending
5 of 32 questions
Universal payments, such as child benefit and energy credits, should be replaced with more targeted measures aimed at the less well-off.
- Agree
- Neither agree nor disagree
- Disagree
- No opinion
Housing
6 of 32 questions
The government should focus on making houses more affordable rather than providing financial supports to first-time buyers.
- Agree
- Neither agree nor disagree
- Disagree
- No opinion
Housing
7 of 32 questions
Planning guidelines should be relaxed to allow for more one-off rural housing
- Agree
- Neither agree nor disagree
- Disagree
- No opinion
Comment:
"Local Development plans should be fit for their respective areas rather than city centrifed "
- Shay Cullen
Housing
8 of 32 questions
A rent freeze should be introduced across the country, even if it risks landlords leaving the market
- Agree
- Neither agree nor disagree
- Disagree
- No opinion
Housing
9 of 32 questions
The Local Property Tax should be scrapped, even if it means less money available for local councils
- Agree
- Neither agree nor disagree
- Disagree
- No opinion
Comment:
"Local Councils should be centrally funded and be staffed accordingly to provide housing and services "
- Shay Cullen
Transport
10 of 32 questions
The provision of public transport (trains, light rail, buses) should be prioritised over building roads
- Agree
- Neither agree nor disagree
- Disagree
- No opinion
Comment:
"we need both as we have no eco friendly alternative that matches the needs of all"
- Shay Cullen
Transport
11 of 32 questions
The passenger cap at Dublin airport should be lifted
- Agree
- Neither agree nor disagree
- Disagree
- No opinion
Comment:
"absolutely and we need more regional airports "
- Shay Cullen
Environment, energy, agriculture
12 of 32 questions
Carbon taxes should continue to increase each year
- Agree
- Neither agree nor disagree
- Disagree
- No opinion
Environment, energy, agriculture
13 of 32 questions
Ireland should give up its exemption under the EU Nitrates directive
- Agree
- Neither agree nor disagree
- Disagree
- No opinion
Environment, energy, agriculture
14 of 32 questions
The government should introduce measures to significantly reduce the extent of livestock farming in Ireland
- Agree
- Neither agree nor disagree
- Disagree
- No opinion
Comment:
"We should be proud of our food production and quality and do everything to save it "
- Shay Cullen
Environment, energy, agriculture
15 of 32 questions
Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) terminals should be allowed in Ireland, to improve security of supply
- Agree
- Neither agree nor disagree
- Disagree
- No opinion
Social issues and education
16 of 32 questions
Abortion should be allowed in a wider range of circumstances.
- Agree
- Neither agree nor disagree
- Disagree
- No opinion
Comment:
"The current legislation is adequate but the rights enshinred in same should be better protected and provision of services nationwide achieved "
- Shay Cullen
Social issues and education
17 of 32 questions
Policies to increase the representation of women in politics have gone too far
- Agree
- Neither agree nor disagree
- Disagree
- No opinion
Comment:
"It is essential to increase female participation in politics for the betterment of rounded policy decision making"
- Shay Cullen
Social issues and education
18 of 32 questions
New laws on hate speech should be introduced to protect vulnerable communities
- Agree
- Neither agree nor disagree
- Disagree
- No opinion
Social issues and education
19 of 32 questions
Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) have too much power in Irish policy making
- Agree
- Neither agree nor disagree
- Disagree
- No opinion
Social issues and education
20 of 32 questions
Religious instruction should only take place outside school hours in Irish primary schools
- Agree
- Neither agree nor disagree
- Disagree
- No opinion
Comment:
"Schools should be about education not religion "
- Shay Cullen
Social issues and education
21 of 32 questions
Gender diversity and transgender issues should be taught in Irish primary schools
- Agree
- Neither agree nor disagree
- Disagree
- No opinion
Immigration and asylum
22 of 32 questions
More resources should be given to improving conditions for asylum seekers
- Agree
- Neither agree nor disagree
- Disagree
- No opinion
Comment:
"We need to respect human rights and continue to be a welcoming country but we need to look at our capacity to deliver more to all in our communities "
- Shay Cullen
Immigration and asylum
23 of 32 questions
Communities should be obliged to take their fair share of asylum seekers, even if there is local opposition
- Agree
- Neither agree nor disagree
- Disagree
- No opinion
Comment:
"with proper consultation and provision of services to support any growth in local populations "
- Shay Cullen
Immigration and asylum
24 of 32 questions
Accommodation centres for asylum seekers should not be located in economically disadvantaged areas
- Agree
- Neither agree nor disagree
- Disagree
- No opinion
Comment:
"absolutely "
- Shay Cullen
Immigration and asylum
25 of 32 questions
Rules on immigrant work permits and student visas should become more restrictive
- Agree
- Neither agree nor disagree
- Disagree
- No opinion
Comment:
"we need immigrants and they all should be allowed to work and they all should contribute to their costs like housing food etc if they have the capacity and means to do so "
- Shay Cullen
Crime and policing
26 of 32 questions
The solution to anti-social behaviour lies in tackling poverty and disadvantage rather than tougher policing
- Agree
- Neither agree nor disagree
- Disagree
- No opinion
Comment:
"And having better community support services in the gardai and through schools social enterprises and clubs "
- Shay Cullen
Crime and policing
27 of 32 questions
Gardaí should take a more robust approach to dealing with political protests
- Agree
- Neither agree nor disagree
- Disagree
- No opinion
Comment:
"They do a great job under pressure and peaceful policing is to be admired but I welcome safety measures of cameras etc "
- Shay Cullen
Foreign policy and defence
28 of 32 questions
Ireland should continue to provide financial and political support to Ukraine in response to the ongoing war
- Agree
- Neither agree nor disagree
- Disagree
- No opinion
Comment:
"We need to fufil our EU obligations on funding but should not continue indefinitely "
- Shay Cullen
Foreign policy and defence
29 of 32 questions
The EU should suspend its trade agreement with Israel
- Agree
- Neither agree nor disagree
- Disagree
- No opinion
Comment:
"The war should stop, hostages be returned and Israel should respect they need to share their space peacefully like we learned to in Ireland. "
- Shay Cullen
Foreign policy and defence
30 of 32 questions
Ireland should retain its ‘triple lock’ rule for deploying troops abroad
- Agree
- Neither agree nor disagree
- Disagree
- No opinion
Foreign policy and defence
31 of 32 questions
Ireland should collaborate more with other EU member states on defence and security
- Agree
- Neither agree nor disagree
- Disagree
- No opinion
Comment:
"We are a coastal country without the resources to protect ourselves and we need to invest in our army, navy and waters "
- Shay Cullen
Irish unity
32 of 32 questions
A referendum on Irish unity should be held in the next five years
- Agree
- Neither agree nor disagree
- Disagree
- No opinion
Comment:
"It should be held when we have progressed further along the path of mutual respect and understanding "
- Shay Cullen