What do I stand for?

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Actually fixing problems!

As a nation, we stand where we are because of a lack of competency to plan for the future, spend money wisely and in a fair and transparent manner, understand the wider and longer term implications of legislation and policy and a failure to understand that running the country mainly for the benefit of corporations and through the lens of NGO perspectives is negatively affecting the majority of people in Ireland. Promising local improvements without addressing the national root causes will simply keep us where we are. Applying these 7 key concepts to all issues - immigration, healthcare, housing, women's rights, agriculture, rural business and development and infrastructure will provide solutions to the problems being experienced by so many.

Representative Democracy

The Irish people have a right to a hand in their own destiny. Over the past decades, this right has been eroded and some elected representatives demonstrate a complete lack of respect for the will of the electorate which is unprecedented in Ireland. This must change. There are no structures for TDs to inform and gain consensus when voting on behalf of their constituency.

Cost-effective, Accountable Spend

In theory, Ireland is a wealthy country and yet access to basics such as healthcare, education and housing remain challenging. While policies play a strong role in creating this situation, profligate spending and zero accountability are largely responsible. The taxpayers work hard to provide the country's budget, they deserve transparency and value for money.

Adequate Planning & Infrastructure

Systems and services in Ireland are consistently hampered by an apparent complete lack of foresight or planning. We spend chunks of money randomly on whatever projects are most on fire or being funded from EU or international funds at that moment. If we want a functioning country, we need to plan coherently for that.

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Evidence-based Policy Decisions

The utter lack of a requirement to have accurate and complete data brought to bear in policy decisions is truly shocking and is creating massive injustice in Ireland that is being felt by very many people. Along with skewed, inaccurate and incomplete data, increasingly we are seeing decisions to not collect certain types of data at all and certainly to seek to hide particular datasets from the public. Policy decisions must be driven and backed by accurate and complete data and evidence and moreover the evidence must show that the policy is capable of delivering the outcome that taxpayers are paying for.

Equality and a voice for all groups

The current trend from our government is creating multiple tiers of participation in public life. Those individuals or groups advocating change that align with current policy are prioritised and published. Those that dissent are largely muted if not silenced. All groups have a right to their identity and to advocate for themselves. That right must be effectively asserted and space created for their voices.

Rational, Adult Conversations

We live in a time of fast and big changes, many of which are contentious from the public perspective. Labelling and dismissing any attempt at having rational, adult conversations as 'far-right', 'racist' or otherwise '-phobic' is both childish and irresponsible. Genuine concerns exist on both sides of many contentious topics and solutions cannot be found without discussion.

Defending Fundamental Rights

The establishment of groups assigned preferential and priority treatment is negatively affecting fundamental rights of those not so preferred or prioritised across the entire public spectrum. These individuals or groups typically lack the resources to bring enforcement actions or dedicated and publicly funded NGOs to fight their cause. Their rights are worthy of defence too.