It can be difficult to find where candidates and reps stand on different local and national issues. I plan this as an A-Z of what you can expect from me and how you might expect me to vote and act if elected to public office. I plan to keep views short here, but will link to appropriate blog posts and Green Party policies where available. Please use the comments section or send me an email at Oisin.OhAlmhain@greenparty.ie to see my answer to your issue here.  I am conscious also, that if I list EVERYTHING I have an opinion on, I am likely to differ from you the reader on at least one thing.  What I ask is that you reflect, on balance, whether my world view is different from yours.  I am also willing to learn and develop most of my viewpoints, and again, feel free to use the comments facility or the e-mail address above, to criticise, comment or clarify. [please note that comments are moderated to avoid spam]

Agriculture – we need to change what we eat and produce so that it is not damaging to the environment. Farmers need a just transition, but it can be achieved if we look at our food chain as a whole, and stop prorating large agribusiness over small independent producers.

Bus Connects – I am broadly in favour of a redesign of the Dublin Bus Network. We need radical change to help move people to public transport.

Communism – as some academic socialists have said, I am not educated on the political question. I am not learned in Marxism. I would consider myself an eco socialist, but I pick and choose my viewpoints. I simply want the best for everyone.

Democracy – I believe that decision making at the lowest effective level gives us the best for everyone. More local plebiscites, more local government, more power to the people.

Ecology, Economy and Equity – For us all to prosper we need these three things together. Leaving any of them out creates problems.

Football – I love it! Like everything, local is better. Support your nearest league of Ireland team (and the Dubs in all codes!)

Gaeilge – Is Gaeilgeoir mé. Tír gan teanga: tír gan anam!

Housing – a human right. We need to build more, particularly social and affordable housing. We need to repair and repurpose vacant homes and buildings. We not rely on the private sector.

Immigration – Irish people have emigrated throughout the world for generations. We have benefitted from a globalised world and are part.y responsible for some of the climate change and other issues that have displaced people. I welcome refugees and protection seekers.

Journalism – We have a great tradition, let’s support our journalists so that they can act independently, but let’s have a fully funded state broadcaster so that we can have news that is unaffected by commercial interests.

K

Land Value (or site value) Tax – We need to fund local government and we need to have taxes that are not based on income and that make it less profitable for people who hoard banks of land.  I think that the owners of land should pay tax based on the value of the land they live on, unlike the current local property tax which punishes those who declare the full value of their house and who improve their house and neighbourhood, and rewards those who let their house fall apart.  On the local property tax, I would vote against reducing the rate and these reductions unequally benefit the very rich and result in worse public services locally.

MarriageEquality – I support marriage equality and oppose any discrimination on any grounds towards two people who love each other and wish to share their lives.

N

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Palestine – Ceasefire now, and a 2 state solution. Hoping that the people of Israel will change their hardline leadership, but the world should help them make that decision and stop supporting genocide.

Q

Reproductive Health – I support people in making their own decisions with the clearest and most appropriate advice and support from medical professionals, and their own personal circumstances.

Social Welfare – Everybody deserves a chance, and everyone should have enough money to cover their basic needs.  One solution to the stigma that social welfare has in Ireland is that there would be a Universal Basic Income:  That way, everyone would be getting the money that they needed to survive, and those that are able to make money just pay a little bit more in taxes, so that there is enough to go around!  Just like a children’s allowance – but for all ages!

Trade Unions – Everyone should be in a union and we should be active!  We are better together and a union can get the best for the greatest number of people, so long as people get involved and support their unions and make sure that they know what is going on.  If it weren’t for trade unions we would probably be working 60+ hour weeks with no holidays!

United Ireland – I’m neutral on this. I want to live on an island where we can all flourish and thrive no matter what our backgrounds. Universal Basic Income– let’s do this for everyone! Research shows that it doesn’t stop people working but it does provide a safety net and takes the poverty traps out of the welfare system. The reasonable starting point is making tax credits refundable!

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Women’s Rights – We have a gender pay gap in Ireland and a Gender imbalance in many of the decision making roles in business and society.  As a hospital pharmacist, most of my colleagues are women, but a large proportion of managers are men: this troubles me.  I believe that there is a role for positive my discrimination in changing the profile of decision making and so I fully support gender quotas, the publication of gender pay differences, and other measures that highlight and address gaps in the system.

X – I still call it twitter and you will occasionally find me there, although the algorithm seems to be set on showing my posts to people who violently disagree rather than people who will engage constructively.

Youth – “Mol an óige agus tiocfaidh sí.”  I think investment in youth and children makes for a more stable society and a more balanced future.  I am proud to sit on the board of a Youth Project in Inchicore.  I think we need to support local youth organisations which will increase the opportunity for participants to live fuller lives and open the door to a brighter future.

Z