Q&A: Declared candidates around Carlow answer our questions ahead of polling day
Who are you voting for?
With election season now in full swing, Carlow Live is helping voters in Carlow get to know the confirmed candidates that are based in the Dolmen County.
*Important: The Q&A with the candidates that are Kilkenny based will be published on Monday and Helena Byrne has also been contacted after she recently declared she was running
We have asked every candidate the same five questions and here were the answers from the candidates in Carlow:
Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (Fianna Fáil):
Q: What do you think will be the main issues coming up on the doorsteps in Carlow/Kilkenny now that the election campaign is under way?
A: Health: Record numbers of patients on trolleys. Step down facilities for patients. Difficulties getting proper home care packages. Lack of mental health services and supports. Housing: Record numbers on our housing lists. Local Authorities not building social and affordable houses. Need for a women’s refuge. Climate Action: Carbon Taxes are not achieving any goals. They simply punish the elderly and low paid.
Q: Why should people vote for you?
A: I have been working hard for the people of County Carlow since 1999 and particularly since my election to the Seanad in 2016. I’m not like other politicians, with me there are no pretences, if someone comes to me it’s because my door is always open. Your issues are my issues.
Q: If you had the power to make one big thing happen, locally or nationally, what would it be?
A: Give a voice to those who feel they are never heard and make strong representation and not afraid to make hard decisions.
Q: What should be the key local priorities for the Carlow/Kilkenny constituency in the next Dail?
A: Build more affordable housing, jobs and investment good quality local jobs, better value for our health spend locally including a fit for purpose facility for Holy Angels and overnight respite in our constituency. University status for our regional third level institutions. Safer communities, safer streets prioritising our town centres, climate action, fair and just prices in return for high quality produce.
Q: Who will top the poll in the Carlow/Kilkenny constituency?
A: That’s up to the good people of Carlow and Kilkenny. Wouldn’t it be just great to be that candidate though?!
Adrienne Wallace (People Before Profit):
Q: What do you think will be the main issues coming up on the doorsteps in Carlow/Kilkenny with the election campaign officially underway?
A: I think the escalating housing crisis will continue to be a main issue. People Before Profit have a proven track record of fighting to cut high rents, to open vacant homes and to build public homes on public land for more affordable housing.
Climate change will also be a big issue. The escalating climate crisis is worrying, but the inaction from Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael over the decades has been much more alarming. People Before Profit are the only party taking on the fossil fuel industry. It’s time to put a carbon tax on the big polluters, not on ordinary people, in order to fund a mass-scale shift to renewable energy.
Addressing the housing crisis. As one of the youngest candidates home ownership is being pulled away from my generation – we need affordable housing for all.
Wage stagnation is prolific – we need to fight for higher pay and end precarious work.
Keep the Pension age at 65 – Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil want to increase it to 68, the highest in Europe!
We also need free public transport and more buses.
A: Because it’s time to break the cycle of Fine Gael and Fiana Fáil rule. I will be a thorn in the side of the establishment and have always put Carlow and Kilkenny at the centre. PBP TDs also only take the average workers wage – the rest goes to local campaigns. We need a fighter and a new voice, not the same old failed politics of the past.
A: Stop homelessness
A: I hope it's someone who is a break from the same old parties.
Pat Deering (Fine Gael):
A: I feel health, social issues, housing, Brexit and agriculture will feature on the doorstep during this election campaign.
Q: What should be the key local priorities for the Carlow/Kilkenny constituency in the next Dail?
Getting a Technological University for the South East, affordable housing, continuation of reduced numbers on the live register, an ability to work with local groups to secure funding for their continuing existence and development and future further development of industry in Carlow and Kilkenny.
Q: Why should people vote for you?
A: People should vote for me because I want to continue delivering for Carlow. I have worked tirelessly for the people of Carlow. I have delivered across a broad spectrum and I am prepared to find solutions to problems not just diagnose them. I am committed to making Carlow better and will do whatever it takes to make this happen.
Q: If you had the power to make one big thing happen, locally or nationally, what would it be?
A: For me I would like to see the health system get better. I would like to see the front-line workers getting the help they need to bring our health system in line with those who have a Universal Healthcare System for all.
Q: Who will top the poll in the Carlow/Kilkenny constituency?
A: I don't know who will top the poll, as that is up to the people of the Carlow/Kilkenny constituency.
Denis Hynes (The Labour Party):
A: The crisis in health and record waiting lists; the lack of social and affordable housing, and the huge waste of public money under FG and FF over the last four years.
A: The need for more step-down care to take the pressure of St Luke’s, end the waiting lists for home help and lift the recruitment embargo. I also think better pay and greater job security is a huge issue. Too many people are underpaid, and wages aren’t keeping up with the cost of living. Labour will raise the minimum wage to be a real living wage of €12.30 and freeze the State Pension age at 66.
Q:Why should people vote for you?
A: I am a new candidate, and I have the experience to deliver real solutions for the people of our constituency and break the monopoly of FG and FF. We can ensure no child is left behind and Labour will make primary education genuinely free-of-charge through schoolbooks and healthy school meals.
A: That the State builds thousands more homes. Labour wants to build 80,000 homes over five years on publicly owned land so that everyone, from all walks of life, will be able to rent or buy them affordably. The private market has failed to provide affordable housing. Labour will get the state building again and end our homeless crisis. I would introduce the living wage of €12.30 per hour as the new minimum wage.
A: John McGuinness FF