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Fergal Landy

Fergal Landy

Independent

If elected I will represent the people of East Galway by applying the values of equality, fairness, and social justice as I have always done over the last 20 years. As a reasonably affluent country we can do much better by people especially in regional and rural areas.

  • Priority: Housing

    We need to change how we think of housing, as a need and a social right, not an investment commodity. More supply of all types are needed ASAP!

  • Priority: Transport

    We need to empower people to live and work sustainably by linking regional towns and villages to cities with affordable, accessible options.

  • Priority: Environment, energy, agriculture

    An opportunity need not be divisive. Use innovation to drive regional growth in these areas with farmers, business people, environmentalists.

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: "Its not an either or, some for future, some for now, decision is the balance and priority. Spatial planning of regional capital infrastructure to enable housing is the priority now and links to environment and transport. Inclusive, cohesive communities flow from this, lack of it feeds division! "

- Fergal Landy
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: "No need for divisive rhetoric that acts as a red herring, we do not have a lack of tax revenue, so progressive tax system where each pays their fair share and those that earn more pay more. People want assurance their taxes are being used appropriately rather than focus on tax increases! "

- Fergal Landy
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: "Its a matter of principle, it was meant to be temporary and people pay prsi. it can be phased out that may require review of prsi/paye/property/corporate taxes to ensure sustainable tax intake and wide tax base. A simple but effective tax system should not need it as a separate charge. "

- Fergal Landy
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
Comment: "It is appropriate to tax inherited wealth as part of tax base and to address generational income inequality but thresholds need to keep up with the value of property, indexed linked, this an issue of thresholds more than the rate. Family should not be penalised for looking after loved ones. "

- Fergal Landy
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
Comment: "Universal v targeted is not an either or, use evidence based policy to decide which and when. Universal services can be a leveller creating inclusive, cohesive communities. Primary schools are great example of this ECEC could be. Income transfers are better targeted to those who need them "

- Fergal Landy
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
Comment: "There is room for both, problem is when demand side measures exceed or overtake supply side leading to counter productive price inflation. Balance should more to supply side in terms of focus and investment, only when supply side is predictably and sustainable in place can demand side work. "

- Fergal Landy
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: "Somewhat agree but its misnomer. More housing needed in or close to rural villages and towns with aligned water, transport, services infrastructure. Revitalising towns and villages is the key for locals and "blow ins"! Planning should be user friendly/fast protecting water quality/nature "

- Fergal Landy
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
Comment: "Rent freeze across country is crude instrument as issues not uniform but rent controls are needed. This could be a competence of local government if we truly believe in proper democratic local governance. System must be enable provision of stable quality housing at affordable rent. "

- Fergal Landy
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: "No tax is popular but keeping tax base broad in important. As part of fresh approach to empowered participatory local government we should involve communities in deciding what LPT is spent on, some emerging ideas have happened with municipal budgets. People will tolerate, if sense of ownership "

- Fergal Landy
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: "I don't think you can say that across the country as the picture is not even and it pits rural communities against sustainability agenda. We need both in parallel and balance will be dynamic with choice. More role for local government with TII with long term infrastructure for regions "

- Fergal Landy
Transport
11 of 32 questions
The passenger cap at Dublin airport should be lifted
  • Agree
  • Neither agree nor disagree
  • Disagree
  • No opinion
Comment: "its a local government competence, also you cannot determine it as an isolated issue. It is bring presented as a problem by airlines but that is as symptom of unbalanced regional development and an underuse of Shannon and Knock. An all-island approach to balanced regional development needed. "

- Fergal Landy
Environment, energy, agriculture
12 of 32 questions
Carbon taxes should continue to increase each year
  • Agree
  • Neither agree nor disagree
  • Disagree
  • No opinion
Comment: "Agree but must not be done in a way that pits rural people against sustainability agenda, not punitive but instead of other taxes and not applied before investment in infrastructure that creates choice eg. public transport. It needs to be done incrementally, dynamically with increase in choices "

- Fergal Landy
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
Comment: "Agree but gradually overtime that allows farmers to be properly supported with additional funding to implement other methods to improve water quality first. And firstly much greater focus on Irish Water to address water quality issues that arise in domestic and commercial water treatment. "

- Fergal Landy
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: "Agree but in consultation with farmers, they were encouraged to increase and made investments accordingly, now they are asked to reduce. It needs to very gradual with financial and other supports for farmers with predictability and opportunity to earn a sustainable income into next generation "

- Fergal Landy
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
Comment: "The situation on this has been very dynamic making it hard to have a clear position. If consistency of supply can be achieved in different ways such as variety of renewable options and interconnectors to both tap into and sell into neighbouring jurisdictions that is preferable. "

- Fergal Landy
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: "I am pro-choice. Abortion services should be governed by evidence based policy on women's healthcare and as part of a Universal Health system with high quality services that ensure the safety and wellbeing and good physical and mental health of women, their babies and their fathers. "

- Fergal Landy
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: "Disagree, they have not gone far enough as we do not have sufficient representation of women in politics. Some are blunt, ineffective and may lead to tokenism pitting people against the overall idea. Instead we need to review and learn, eg. using co-options to ensure change in outcomes. "

- Fergal Landy
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
Comment: "Restrictions on hate speech are required to protect vulnerable groups, this has always been needed in Ireland given history of hate speech towards Travellers and other minorities. It is perfectly possible to protect freedom of speech and prevent hate speech at the same time without overreach "

- Fergal Landy
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
Comment: "Ireland has unique collaboration between State and not for profit community & voluntary sector. NGOs include your local community groups, voluntary bodies providing essential disability and older people services as well as national advocacy bodies. We need investment in and solidarity with them "

- Fergal Landy
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: "I agree we should have much more divestment leading to much more choice for parents and pluralism. The question applies an abrupt change and absolute position. We need gradual planned change with participation of whole communities now and into the future as the change is implemented. "

- Fergal Landy
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
Comment: "The curriculum should reflect the diversity of society and community and include and support all young people to be safe and develop to their optimal potential. Greatest threat to our young people is unregulated big tech using inappropriate material to make profits, I'm shocked its not asked here! "

- Fergal Landy
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: "This is not about resources, for over 20 years excessive resources have been squandered by paying commercial landowners to provide what is sometimes poor accommodation and displacing hotels. Existing resources should be directed to provide quality State owned long term accommodation. "

- Fergal Landy
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: "Before the issue of asylum seekers arises, communities should be proactively supported to come together to address their challenges, including the long standing failure of current government parties to address housing and health. Accommodation must be provided as evenly as possible nationwide. "

- Fergal Landy
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: "Accommodation should be distributed as evenly as possible and not disproportionately in economically disadvantaged areas. We should be building an inclusive society that does not allow for "disadvantaged areas". Our 20 year long dependence on commercial landowners leads to an uneven approach! "

- Fergal Landy
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: "People often conflate or confuse cohorts within immigration. Work and study visa system is needed to support our economy. We should be strategic in matching work visas to our workforce development needs rather than reactive and should encourage skills we need for housing, health, sustainability "

- Fergal Landy
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: "Need resourced visible community policing with Gardaí reflecting communities' make up. If we seek to understand crime as one symptom of intergenerational inequality we can use current research evidence to prevent it through trauma-informed approach to prevention and early intervention. "

- Fergal Landy
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: "The term robust is open to interpretation, we need to resource Gardaí to ensure professional and effective policing. Peaceful protest of all forms is welcome in a free society and the Gardaí can facilitate this. Anyone seeking to threaten or intimidate at a protest should be arrested and charged "

- Fergal Landy
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: "As a militarily neutral country Ireland should provide political support and appropriate financial aid to Ukraine and to other countries under attack. This should be done as consistently as possible, if it is inconsistent it undermines our credibility and it should not violate our neutrality. "

- Fergal Landy
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: "This agreement must be suspended as it is contingent on respect for human rights which have been repeatedly violated not just since the October 7th attacks but long before then. The fact the EU Commission has not responded on this shows great disrespect and inconsistency undermining the EU. "

- Fergal Landy
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
Comment: "I do not support any consideration of changing this vital principle. "

- Fergal Landy
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: "I agree if defence and security not reduced to militarism. As a small country we have a lot to offer in terms of diplomacy; consistent respect for international law; conflict resolution/peace building/keeping. Our credibility on this is damaged by inconsistency on U.S and Israel. "

- Fergal Landy
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: "I disagree with putting a rigid timeframe on the holding of a referendum. I am in favour of Irish unity based on the terms of the Good Friday Agreement. How this happens and how long it takes will depend on how we progress an all island inclusive dialogue on what unity might look like "

- Fergal Landy

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