Alan Edge
Independent
Ireland isn’t working for many. We need a strong, independent voice to demand better health services, especially for disability and autism, with more accountable public spending. Action on affordability is key to keeping young people here, alongside greener public transport for a sustainable future.
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Priority:
My top priority is public health, especially ASD and disability services. We need an emergency workforce plan now for essential staff in these areas.
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Priority: Housing
We need to keep our young people & their skills in Ireland. I’m calling for a Dublin rate of pay & proper regs to reduce the cost of building homes.
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Priority: Transport
We need alternative, green, sustainable forms of public transport such as Metro SW and Luas extensions and we need them now, not in 40 years time.
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:
"People are in desperate need of public health services. 5000 children in CHO7 are awaiting assessments of need. Meanwhile money is being wasted. We need to invest in these services by ensuring public money is accounted for and deployed where it’s most needed - in frontline services. "
- Alan Edge
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:
"Taxes for the very wealthy need to be raised but given the astronomical cost of housing, I would push the threshold back. "
- Alan Edge
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:
"I am not in favour of removing USC immediately given the need to ensure our tax base is sufficiently broad to fund desperately needed public services. "
- Alan Edge
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:
"Again, exceptions must be made in view of the housing shortage, for example in respect of the family home. Second properties should be liable. "
- Alan Edge
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:
"We certainly need more targeted measures but we also need universal payments as people who may be ‘well off’ but cash poor, like an retired homeowner struggling with heating costs and shut out of energy supports. "
- Alan Edge
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:
"We need to bring down the cost of building houses. For example, there is no standard set of building regulations in Ireland leading to disproportionately high building costs. A more rational, industry-informed approach and proper regs can and must bring down the cost of building and increase supply."
- Alan Edge
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:
"Rural communities need to be sustainable to survive. Schools need to operate and older relatives need to be cared for. Some provision for one-off rural housing is essential, especially in the midst of an unprecedented housing crisis. "
- Alan Edge
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
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:
"LPT is a vital source of revenue which needs to be used but in circumstances where residents can see where their money is going and what exactly it’s being spent on. "
- Alan Edge
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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:
"Resources must be deployed in any areas where accommodation is sited to ensure local services can meet the added demand. "
- Alan Edge
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
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:
"We need to clearly distinguish legitimate political protest from intimidation / harassment such as picketing IPAS accommodation and targeting people’s homes. Greater enforcement in the latter cases is badly needed and poses no threat to genuine political protest which is a right. "
- Alan Edge
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
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
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
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
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:
"The timing of a referendum must be informed first and foremost by the people of Northern Ireland from all communities. "
- Alan Edge