Andrew  Mannion

Andrew Mannion

People Before Profit-Solidarity

We can end 100 years of Fine Gael & Fianna Fáil rule in this upcoming election after their abject failure to deliver in the last 5 years. Alongside workers in their trade unions and ordinary people in their communities, PBP want to bring about a fairer and more just Ireland for all who call it home.

  • Priority: Housing

    Fixing the housing crisis will require moving away from the current profit-driven model. We need social and affordable homes and to tackle dereliction

  • Priority: Environment, energy, agriculture

    As the climate crisis deepens, we need a just transition that tackles the biggest polluters in society and immediately move to renewable sources ASAP

  • Priority:

    Workers' Rights - we need to amend legislation to allow workers to organise freely and give the power back to workers to fight for their own interests

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: "False choice. You can do both with current budget surplus and a policy of taxing wealth."

- Andrew Mannion

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: "People on huge salaries should not be taxed at the same rate as those earning €44,000. They can afford to pay a higher proportion"

- Andrew Mannion

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: "We want to replace the USC for those earning under €100,000 with a millionaires tax and a wealth tax"

- Andrew Mannion

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
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
Comments:

"We should keep universal benefits but impose higher taxes on those earning more than €100,000."

- People Before Profit-Solidarity

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
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
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
Comments:

"Rents are already too high – mainly because this government has deliberately created loopholes which allow landlords to increase their rental income."

- People Before Profit-Solidarity

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
Comments:

"The government cut back on funding for local authorities and wants us to pay a tax on the family home instead. We are in favour of a wealth tax on muti-millionaires. "

- People Before Profit-Solidarity

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: "We want free public transport to get people out of cars, reduce traffic chaos and emissions."

- Andrew Mannion

Transport
11 of 32 questions
The passenger cap at Dublin airport should be lifted
  • Agree
  • Neither agree nor disagree
  • Disagree
  • No opinion
Environment, energy, agriculture
12 of 32 questions
Carbon taxes should continue to increase each year
  • Agree
  • Neither agree nor disagree
  • Disagree
  • No opinion
Comment: "Carbon taxes do not discourage car usage in the absence of a real alternative. We need free public transport instead and taxes on big polluters."

- Andrew Mannion

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
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: "But there must be a just transition especially for small farmers"

- Andrew Mannion

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: "There should be a ban on LNGs and future fossil fuel exploration"

- Andrew Mannion

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
Comments:

"We need to get rid of the insulting 3 day waiting period, change the rules around fatal foetal abnormality and decriminalise the provision of abortion."

- People Before Profit-Solidarity

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
Comments:

"We welcome targets for women candidate sand will meet them."

- People Before Profit-Solidarity

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: "We are against hate speech but there are problems with the way this legislation was drafted."

- Andrew Mannion

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: "Corporations have too much power."

- Andrew Mannion

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
Comments:

"Our primary schools should not be run by nominees of the local bishop"

- People Before Profit-Solidarity

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: "People should not be put off by scare stories from those who never opposed the sexual abuse of children by priests."

- Andrew Mannion

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: "It is a scandal that asylum seekers are forced to live in tents. We should open up unused public buildings for both asylum seekers and the Irish homeless immediately."

- Andrew Mannion

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: "We oppose far right attempts to scapegoat asylum seekers."

- Andrew Mannion

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: "Asylum seekers should be accommodated in appropriate accommodation regardless of location. It’s the quality of the accommodation that should determine its use."

- Andrew Mannion

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: "They are already quite restrictive. Ask health care staff who are campaigning for family re-unification. Ireland needs more workers to build houses and staff our services."

- Andrew Mannion

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
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 Gardai treat far right protests differently to those inspired by the left. Protestors at Rossport, for example, were physically assaulted while far right protestors were allowed to block an airport."

- Andrew Mannion

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: "The Western imperialist alliance is pouring in money that is prolonging a war. As a neutral country, Ireland should be a voice for peace."

- Andrew Mannion

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: "Ireland should unilaterally impose a boycott of Israel. The Central Bank should not be facilitating the sale of Israeli war bonds."

- Andrew Mannion

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: "We should not join in new superpower conflict. Removing the triple lock will mean more Irish soldiers in future wars."

- Andrew Mannion

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: "We should remain neutral."

- Andrew Mannion

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
Comments:

"It is a basic democratic right."

- People Before Profit-Solidarity