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Paul O'Brien

Paul O'Brien

Labour Party

These answers were provided by the party

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 Candidate position
  • Disagree
  • No opinion Your position
Comment: "Labour will establish a Strategic Investment and Development Bank deploying funds from the FIF to finance the climate transition, new housing and support SMEs. We will continue to save for the future and deploy the nature fund from 2026. "

- Labour Party
Taxes and spending
2 of 32 questions
Taxes on people earning over €100,000 a year should be increased.
  • Agree Candidate position
  • Neither agree nor disagree
  • Disagree
  • No opinion Your position
Comment: "Labour would phase out tax credits on incomes over €100,000 and introduce refundable tax credits for low earners. We would also index tax credits and bands to an average of inflation and wage growth, to protect salary increases."

- Labour Party
Taxes and spending
3 of 32 questions
The Universal Social Charge (USC) is a necessary source of revenue and should be kept.
  • Agree Candidate position
  • Neither agree nor disagree
  • Disagree
  • No opinion Your position
Comment: "Labour will turn USC into a health contribution and ringfence it for our health service but increase bands in line with inflation, to protect workers. Major cuts to the USC will put the public finances at risk."

- Labour Party
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 Candidate position
  • No opinion Your position
Comment: "The inheritance tax threshold thresholds are now generous, and further increases will benefit the wealthiest households most – around 3% of the population. Reducing it will take money away that could improve public services which Labour wants to improve first. "

- Labour Party
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 Candidate position
  • Disagree
  • No opinion Your position
Comment: "Universal payments are important supports. Labour will maintain those and increase the rate. We will introduce a new targeted second tier of child benefit to drastically reduce child poverty, reduce electricity prices, invest in retrofitting and cut energy poverty."

- Labour Party
Housing
6 of 32 questions
The government should focus on making houses more affordable rather than providing financial supports to first-time buyers.
  • Agree Candidate position
  • Neither agree nor disagree
  • Disagree
  • No opinion Your position
Comment: "Labour will build over 50,000 homes a year with at least 10,000 of those affordable (and cost rental) priced at up to €400,000 and introduce targeted supports so people on low to middle incomes can buy their own home."

- Labour Party
Housing
7 of 32 questions
Planning guidelines should be relaxed to allow for more one-off rural housing
  • Agree
  • Neither agree nor disagree Candidate position
  • Disagree
  • No opinion Your position
Comment: "There are clear controls on one off housing. These should be applied and the NPF updated to provide for more compact and clustered development, while allowing those that qualify to build homes on their own land as currently provided for. "

- Labour Party
Housing
8 of 32 questions
A rent freeze should be introduced across the country, even if it risks landlords leaving the market
  • Agree Candidate position
  • Neither agree nor disagree
  • Disagree
  • No opinion Your position
Comment: "Rents in Ireland have risen 27% since 2021, well above the rate of inflation and it is having a knock-on effect in other areas of our economy, as key workers cannot afford to live in many areas of the country."

- Labour Party
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 Candidate position
  • No opinion Your position
Comment: "A broad tax base and secure funding for local government is vital, and LPT is a key part of achieving that so local authorities can fund community investment and local services and ensure those with most contribute a fair share."

- Labour Party
Transport
10 of 32 questions
The provision of public transport (trains, light rail, buses) should be prioritised over building roads
  • Agree Candidate position
  • Neither agree nor disagree
  • Disagree
  • No opinion Your position
Comment: "Investment in public transport should be prioritised to reduce our dependency on cars, cut harmful emissions and improve connectivity, particularly for people in rural areas. The road maintenance budget should be increased to improve safety rather than increase capacity."

- Labour Party
Transport
11 of 32 questions
The passenger cap at Dublin airport should be lifted
  • Agree
  • Neither agree nor disagree Candidate position
  • Disagree
  • No opinion Your position
Comment: "The cap is a planning matter due to traffic concerns and will be addressed through that process. We want Metrolink, balanced regional development, enforcement of noise rules and sound insulation for local residents, and an aviation emissions reduction plan."

- Labour Party
Environment, energy, agriculture
12 of 32 questions
Carbon taxes should continue to increase each year
  • Agree Candidate position
  • Neither agree nor disagree
  • Disagree
  • No opinion Your position
Comment: "We need to phase out fossil fuels and carbon taxes ensure those who generate most emissions contribute more. Labour will invest the proceeds to support households by extending the fuel allowance and introduce a €400 refundable carbon income tax credit."

- Labour Party
Environment, energy, agriculture
13 of 32 questions
Ireland should give up its exemption under the EU Nitrates directive
  • Agree
  • Neither agree nor disagree Candidate position
  • Disagree
  • No opinion Your position
Comment: "The nitrates derogation will only be retained if supported by EPA data showing measurable improvements in water quality status. This requires changes to grassland management, lower stocking rates in some places, more use of protected urea, LESS and multi-species swards."

- Labour Party
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 Candidate position
  • No opinion Your position
Comment: "Meeting our climate targets means working closely with farmers who must be supported to diversify and produce food sustainably with a just transition. We support CAP reform and policies that protect the family farm model and that reward small farmers."

- Labour Party
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 Candidate position
  • No opinion Your position
Comment: "LNG is a dirty fuel that will increase our emissions and harm public health. It is a step backward for Ireland’s environmental goals, and we need to invest in renewable energy and phase out fossil fuels, not build new infrastructure. "

- Labour Party
Social issues and education
16 of 32 questions
Abortion should be allowed in a wider range of circumstances.
  • Agree Candidate position
  • Neither agree nor disagree
  • Disagree
  • No opinion Your position
Comment: "Many women are still forced to travel for terminations many due to the overly restrictive nature of the 12-week rule and 3-day waiting period. Labour would implement the recommendations of the O’Shea report to address gaps in our abortion services. "

- Labour Party
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 Candidate position
  • No opinion Your position
Comment: "Women remain underrepresented in politics which should reflect the makeup of our society, and there remains significant barriers to their participation that must be addressed. "

- Labour Party
Social issues and education
18 of 32 questions
New laws on hate speech should be introduced to protect vulnerable communities
  • Agree Candidate position
  • Neither agree nor disagree
  • Disagree
  • No opinion Your position
Comment: "We need robust hate speech legislation with protections in place for freedom of speech. Ireland is an inclusive country but there is a worrying trend of a small but vocal cohort using hate speech to target vulnerable cohorts, particularly online."

- Labour Party
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 Candidate position
  • No opinion Your position
Comment: "NGOs provide a strong voice for their individual cause and carry out research and advocacy that informs our response to social and economic issues. It is the public representatives elected by the people and the government who make decisions."

- Labour Party
Social issues and education
20 of 32 questions
Religious instruction should only take place outside school hours in Irish primary schools
  • Agree Candidate position
  • Neither agree nor disagree
  • Disagree
  • No opinion Your position
Comment: "Religion belief is a personal decision and instruction should take place outside school hours. We would implement more ambitious patronage divestment to multi-denominational bodies like Educate Together and ETBs to provide more choice to parents and recognise our growing diversity."

- Labour Party
Social issues and education
21 of 32 questions
Gender diversity and transgender issues should be taught in Irish primary schools
  • Agree Candidate position
  • Neither agree nor disagree
  • Disagree
  • No opinion Your position
Comment: "Transgender people have always existed and face significant abuse and harm because of their identity. Education on gender issues should be objective and inclusive and promote understanding and compassion for vulnerable groups. "

- Labour Party
Immigration and asylum
22 of 32 questions
More resources should be given to improving conditions for asylum seekers
  • Agree Candidate position
  • Neither agree nor disagree
  • Disagree
  • No opinion Your position
Comment: "Ireland has an obligation to protect the rights of refugees seeking internation protection. Direct provision should be replaced with suitable state-owned accommodation to allow IP applicants live with dignity, integrate well and contribute back to communities."

- Labour Party
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 Candidate position
  • Neither agree nor disagree
  • Disagree
  • No opinion Your position
Comment: "No one has a veto over where other people live, but communities accepting asylum seekers should be provided with more resources appropriate to the needs of the people living there and ensure local services are adequate to provide for all. "

- Labour Party
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 Candidate position
  • No opinion Your position
Comment: "There should be a fair distribution of IP applicants and firstly located in well-serviced areas. That will not always happen due to a lack of suitable and available accommodation. Areas accepting asylum seekers should be provided with extra resources."

- Labour Party
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 Candidate position
  • No opinion Your position
Comment: "Ireland currently has full employment and businesses are struggling to find staff. Migrant workers are essential to fill the gaps in our workforce, such as those in construction and the health service, and ensure the proper functioning of our economy. "

- Labour Party
Crime and policing
26 of 32 questions
The solution to anti-social behaviour lies in tackling poverty and disadvantage rather than tougher policing
  • Agree Candidate position
  • Neither agree nor disagree
  • Disagree
  • No opinion Your position
Comment: "We need high visibility community policing but root cause of anti-social behaviour is more often poverty and disadvantage due to a historic lack of investment in communities. Labour would put more gardai in our communities but also invest in education."

- Labour Party
Crime and policing
27 of 32 questions
Gardaí should take a more robust approach to dealing with political protests
  • Agree
  • Neither agree nor disagree Candidate position
  • Disagree
  • No opinion Your position
Comment: "The right to peaceful protest is non-negotiable, but threatening, abusive or violent behaviour should not be tolerated. Each incident should be managed on a case-by-case basis by Gardaí to ensure it can’t be exploited by extremist or far right activists. "

- Labour Party
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 Candidate position
  • Neither agree nor disagree
  • Disagree
  • No opinion Your position
Comment: "We condemn Russia’s brutal invasion and war crimes against Ukraine and will provide political, humanitarian, financial and other support to the Ukrainian people, continue to support Ukrainian refugees in Ireland and Ukraine’s membership application of the EU."

- Labour Party
Foreign policy and defence
29 of 32 questions
The EU should suspend its trade agreement with Israel
  • Agree Candidate position
  • Neither agree nor disagree
  • Disagree
  • No opinion Your position
Comment: "The EU is Israel’s biggest trading partner, and continuing trade is a tacit acceptance of their ongoing genocide against the Palestinian people. The EU should suspend trade to take a meaningful step towards ending Palestinian suffering. "

- Labour Party
Foreign policy and defence
30 of 32 questions
Ireland should retain its ‘triple lock’ rule for deploying troops abroad
  • Agree Candidate position
  • Neither agree nor disagree
  • Disagree
  • No opinion Your position
Comment: "Labour will retain the Triple Lock for approval of UN peacekeeping missions with changes to allow for larger, short-term deployments of personnel for emergency evacuations and protection missions, up from the current limit of 12 to protect our military neutrality. "

- Labour Party
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 Candidate position
  • Disagree
  • No opinion Your position
Comment: "We would maintain our position of military neutrality and are against any deepening militarisation of the EU when NATO already provides those structures, but cooperation with EU partners on issues like cybersecurity and emergency planning may be necessary. "

- Labour Party
Irish unity
32 of 32 questions
A referendum on Irish unity should be held in the next five years
  • Agree
  • Neither agree nor disagree Candidate position
  • Disagree
  • No opinion Your position
Comment: "We would set up a Department of Unification and will strive to achieve a United Ireland potentially within the next decade but a huge amount of planning work needs to be done in advance of a referendum including reconciling communities."

- Labour Party

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