Dublin South Central Election Profiles Round-up

After weeks of speculation, Taoiseach Enda Kenny has dissolved the Dáil and confirmed the 26th February as the date for this year’s General Election.

The Dublin South Central constituency has 13 candidates and they are all looking to secure one of the 4 seats that are up for grabs. The constituency has lost one seat since the 2011 General Election.

Here at the Liberty, we have prepared profiles for each of the 13 candidates to provide you with all the information you need to make your vote count on 26th February.

Catherine Byrne (Elected in last General Election, 2011)

• Fine Gael
• Age 59
• From Inchicore
• First ran for national government in 20
• First elected as TD in 2007
• Re-elected in 2011
• Elected as a Councillor in 1999 and 2004
• Lord Mayor of Dublin 2005-2006
• Member of the Oireachtas Committee on Health & Children (2011- 2016) and the Oireachtas Committee on Education & Social Protection (2014- 2016)
• Main priority is the creation of new jobs.

Catherine Ardagh

• Fianna Fáil
• Age 33
• From Crumlin
• First time running as a candidate for the national government
• First ran in local elections in 2009
• First elected as a councillor in 2014
• Practising solicitor
• Involved with The South Inner City Community Development Association
• Her father, Sean Ardagh, was a TD for Crumlin and the Inner City for 15 years
• Main priorities are crime prevention, increased social housing, abolition of Irish Water, restoration of the Household Package and the introduction of tax credits for working parents.

Eric Byrne (Elected in 2011)

• Labour
• Age 68
• From Crumlin/Kimmage
• First elected as a councillor in 1985 (member of the Workers’ Party)
• Re-elected at subsequent elections until resigning in 2011
• First ran for national government in 1977 election
• First elected as a TD in 1989 (member of the Workers’ Party)
• Re-elected as a TD in 1994 (Democratic Left) and 2011 (Labour)
• Elected Deputy Lord Mayor of Dublin in July 2001
• Member of the Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs
• Main priority is the creation of jobs and maintained recovery.

Neville Bradley

• Direct Democracy Ireland
• Age 55
• From Walkinstown
• Second time running for national government
• First stood for national government in 2011 election (ran as an independent candidate)
• Currently employed as a Fire Services Manager
• Ran for local government in 2014 elections
• Main priorities are achieving financial freedom and political accountability.

 

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Elected in 2011)

• Sinn Féin
• Age 51
• From Bluebell
• First stood for national government in 1987 election
• First elected as a TD in 2002
• Re-elected as a TD in 2007 and 2011
• Ran for local government in 1991
• Currently the Sinn Féin party whip
• Member of the Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection and of the Oireachtas Committee on Procedure and Privileges
• Main priorities are abolishing water charges and the local property tax, and keeping Ballyfermot’s De La Salle School open and reversing government Social Welfare cuts.

Máire Devine

• Sinn Féin
• Age 52
• Born in the Liberties, now lives in Rialto
• First time running as a candidate for the national government
• Elected as councillor in 2014
• A member of the Joint Policing Committee
• Registered Mental Health Nurse
• Main priorities are abolishing water charges and the property tax, the housing crisis, a new tax system, health and challenging the stigma surrounding mental health.

Bríd Smith

• People before Profit Alliance
• Age 57
• From Ballyfermot
• Ran for national government in 1997 & 2002 (member of the Socialist Workers Party) and 2007 (People Before Profit)
• First ran for local government in 2004 (member of the Socialist Workers Party)
• First elected as a councillor in 2009
• Re-elected in 2014
• Ran for European Parliament in 2014
• Main priorities are abolishing Irish Water, ending austerity measures and to build active resistance of people power in the community.

Oisín Ó hAlmhain

• Green Party
• Age 43
• Lives in Inchicore
• First ran for national government in 2011
• First ran for local government in 2014
• Works as a hospital pharmacist
• The Green Party spokesperson for health
• Treasurer and the Secretary of the Dublin South Central Group
• Main priorities are bringing recovery to areas such as Dublin 8 & 10 and taking back the city from developers and rebuilding it for the people.

Michael Gargan

• Renua
• Age 38
• From Kimmage
• First time running as a candidate for the national government
• Owns a computer repair shop
• Main priorities are creating employment, creating new social housing projects , reducing crime, introduction of new tax credit for working parents and securing additional teaching hours for special needs children.

 

Joan Collins (Elected in 2011)

• Independent
• Age 54
• From Crumlin
• First ran for national government in 2007 (independent candidate)
• First elected as a TD in 2011 (member of People before Profit)
• Left People before Profit in 2014
• First ran for local government in 2004
• First elected as a councillor in 2004
• Re-elected in 2009
• Main priorities are improving living standards of constituents, reversing austerity measures and abolishing water charges and property tax

 

Paul Hand

• Independent
• Age 29
• From Drimnagh
• First time running as a candidate for the national government
• First ran for local government in 2014
• First elected as a councillor in 2014
• Main priorities are improving public services in the constituency, dealing with the homelessness crisis and promoting green businesses

 

Richard Murray

• Independent
• Age 30
• From Ballyfermot
• First time running as a candidate for the national government
• Owns a security country
• Main priorities are improving social housing, reducing crime and establishing a “Corruption Assets Bureau”

 

 

Liam Coyne

• Social Democrats
• Age 49
• From Kimmage
• First time running as a candidate for the national government
• Owns a tyre company
• Main priorities are dealing with the homelessness crisis, creating jobs in the local area

By Louise Burne